The Rudin Center for Transportation at the NYU Wagner School of Public Service has released a report that recommends social media policies for transportation providers seeking to inform, engage and motivate their customers.
technology
Silicon Valley shuttles change the face of public transit in San Francisco
Although the shuttles provided by Silicon Valley companies help alleviate congestion and air quality problems in the Bay Area, they have also created some tension in residential neighborhoods where they pick up employees. Only recently have the routes of these “ghost buses” been mapped. San Francisco transit planners and politicians are working to create rules for the popular shuttles.
Fuel saving technologies for truck fleets
According to a new report from Carbon War Room, the adoption of seven fuel-saving technologies by the U.S. trucking industry could reduce carbon emissions by 624 million tons over the next ten years and repay implementation costs within 18 months through reduced fuel consumption.
Decentralized by design: When should we consider ditching exclusive radial bus routes?
In the past, development and commute patterns required transit to bring commuters into densely developed central cities. Dispersal of residential and employment destinations has made serving choice transit riders while still maintaining urban core service a tricky balancing act. How can transit agencies best serve both suburban and urban needs?
The Connected Vehicle (World Road Association and International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies, 2012)
The advent of Intelligent Transport Systems has provided new opportunities for improving the safety and efficiency of the road network. The development of intelligent vehicles, connected by wireless networks to the roadside infrastructure, brings opportunities and issues which are discussed in this report.
Alternative Uses of Highway Right-of-Way: Accommodating Renewable Energy Technologies and Alternative Fuel Facilities (USDOT and Volpe Center, 2012)
This report is intended to provide transportation agencies with information that will better enable them to consider the implications and evaluate the feasibility of implementing renewable energy and fuel options in the ROW. The findings …
SEPTA's new program generates electricity and excitement
As of the end of June, the SEPTA east-west subway line has started feeding electricity back into the power grid as well as using it to run its trains. With the installation of a battery bank next to the tracks, the energy generated by braking trains can be stored. The innovative pilot progam was installed at no cost to SEPTA and is generating excitement in both transit and alternative energy circles.
Instant rewards, penalties, and feedback are shown to change driver behavior
A new study shows that tiny financial losses can improve motorists’ compliance with speed limits. The study’s researchers found that the psychology of losing money, even just a few pennies, as well as the instant feedback of seeing the money trickling away, almost completely eliminated speeding. Hybrid drivers often experience the same instant feedback by watching their dashboard mileage monitor in real time. As drivers become more comfortable with continuous monitoring of vehicle operations and instant feedback on their own behavior, both safety and efficiency can be expected to improve.
Reaction to iPhone announcement points to popularity of transit apps
Apple’s new iPhone operating system does not feature a native transit mapping app, and that has many potential users and transportation advocates concerned. A grassroots campaign has been launched to ask Apple to include transit directions. At the same time, Google Maps announced it was adding real-time transit arrival times for six cities.
Land Use and Transportation Scenario Analysis and Microsimulation (LUTSAM) Tool (SSTI and DelDOT, 2012)
With SSTI assistance, Delaware DOT has developed its four-step demand model for scenario planning, using off-the-shelf GIS and simulation software. The tool, called Land Use and Transportation Scenario Analysis and Microsimulation (LUTSAM), enables DelDOT to quickly model and display development scenarios, providing communities and developers with analysis on traffic, congestion, emissions and other outcomes. LUTSAM will dramatically demonstrate, in real-world cases, the cost and environmental advantages of well-connected, compact and mixed use development. It is currently being used in a variety of settings around the state. Because it is built around standard software, it is adaptable for other states, MPOs and cities seeking to improve their land use and transportation planning.