Concepts for advanced-technology urban transportation systems that could be implemented in 5--15 years are examined, and five generic classes of complementary systems are proposed for further development: major activity center systems (mac); the public automobile service (pas); the dial-a-bus; areawide network systems (net); and fast transit links (ftl). The mac systems would provide pedestrian- conveyor service for short trips within small, densely populated areas such as central business districts, air terminals, universities, and shopping centers. The pas system would furnish cars to accredited drivers and passengers for short, local trips. The travel would be restricted to city streets, and the speed limits would be low. The cars would be accessible at conveniently located, self-service stands and would be rented by the trip. The dial-a-bus system employs radio-dispatched minibuses for use mainly by nondrivers for short, local area trips. The net system would provide extended-area service for medium and long trips throughout the urban areas at speeds comparable to those of automobiles traveling on freeways. Small automated vehicles would operate on a gridlike, area-wide network of special guideways. The fifth system, the ftl, would provide extended-area service for long trips at a high speed on a limited number of routes. The mac, net, and ftl systems would employ special guideways and be automatically rather than manually controlled. /UMTA/.
Abstract