Systems Innovations for Urban Transportation

Innovative transportation system concepts have been identified which could contribute significantly to easing urban transportation problems, while satisfying companion criteria of technological, economic, and social feasibility. Such systems could be available within 5 to 15 yrs if contained within a vigorous federal program of research, development, and demonstration. No one system, public or private, has been found that can be designed to perform all of the functions required to accommodate urban travel several decades from now. Rather, a variety of specialized systems designed to serve distinctive travel functions have been formulated. Three types of urban travel have been identified: major activity center travel, local area travel, and extended area travel. A major federal program of research, development, and demonstration of innovative systems of urban transportation has been recommended on the basis of these study findings.