Some 21st Century Transportation Solutions: A Comparative Analysis

This paper compares urban transportation solutions that are currently in use or under consideration including personal rapid transit (PRT), bus rapid transit (BRT), light rail transit (LRT), electric bicycle rapid transit (BikeRT), transportation network companies (TNC) like Uber and Lyft, and small driverless shuttles (A-shuttles). Since these solutions are often presented without an evaluation of which problems they address and which they ignore, or even exacerbate, the paper develops a methodology to evaluate and compare them. A simplified systems-engineering analysis is undertaken whereby the fundamental requirements for an effective 21st century transportation system are derived from the results of a series of public workshops. These requirements include: safe and secure; reliable; cost-effective; reduces VMT and congestion; sustainable; ADA compliant; widespread service area. Goals are developed for each requirement. The ability of each of the solutions to meet the goal for each requirement is then considered and rated. The results are summarized and ways of combining solutions considered. It is suggested that those questioning the presented results use the same process to develop their own list of requirements and score their preferred solutions against those requirements.