Tomorrow's Transportation: New Systems for the Urban Future

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Metropolitan Development, Urban Transportation Administration, Washington, D.C. 1968

Leon M. Cole, Editor

Harold W. Merritt, Technical Editor

May, 1968

Summary ... 1

I. Urbanization and Urban Transportation ... 5

The Urban Framework ... 8

Public Transportation Today ... 9

Trends in Automobile Use ... 13

The Urban Traveler ... 15

A Time for Action ... 19

II. The Federal Role and Responsibility ... 21

III. What Should Be Done ... 27

Findings and Conclusions ... 27

A Strategy for Action ... 28

- - Improved Methods of Analysis, Planning and Operations ... 28

- - Urban Transportation Information Center ... 30

- - Urban Transportation Test Center ... 31

- - Technological Possibilities ... 31

Immediate Improvements for Present Urban Transportation Systems ... 32

- - Urban Bus System Improvements ... 32

- - Improvments in Exclusive Guideway Systems ... 36

- - Urban Automobile Innovations ... 41

- - Improvements for Pedestrians ... 43

- - Immediate Improvements of General Application ... 44

New Systems for the Future ... 46

- - Components Technology ... 46

- -Recommended Future Systems ... 58

Dial-a-Bus (Demand-Activated Bus Systems) ...58
Personal Rapid Transit ... 60
Dualmode Vehicle Systems ... 65
Pallet or Ferry Systems ... 70
Fast Intraurban Transit Links ... 72
Systems for Major Activity Centers ... 72

Summary: Urban Problems and Program Recommendations ... 79

IV. A Recommended Research and Development Program ... 81

Appendix A: Dial-a-Bus RDTE&D Project Plan ... 85

Appendix B: Summary of New Systems Contracts ... 89

Appendix C: Bibliography of New Systems Study Project Reports ... 93

Acknowledgements ... 96

Index ... 97