In conclusion, the following four points can be made: 1. The performance of surface transportation systems is probably deteriorating. 2. Disparate views about the nature of this performance and its importance have contributed significantly to lack of progress in understanding the extent of this deterioration. 3. Rising costs and constraining finances on the parts of governments are likely to make even more critical our ability to measure such performance and to identify critical segments of our system which are in need of our attention. 4. Concerns for energy consumption are likely to further raise the sector of performance measurement even greater, since deteriorating transportation systems are likely to offset whatever gains we may make in fuel economy. The implications for foreign oil dependence and national security are, therefore, significant. (A)
Samenvatting