A Taxonomy for Advanced Public Transportation Systems

Abstract

This study explores the development and availability of APTS (Advanced Public Transportation Systems) technologies. APTS technologies can revitalize transit by directly improving service, increasing transit efficiency and reducing operating costs, as well as by producing direct benefits for travelers such as reduced travel times, increased safety and security, and reduced stress in dealing with transit unreliability. To understand APTS impacts, this study develops a taxonomy of transit technologies and uses it to explore the availability of new technologies and their impacts. The taxonomy is based on defining the features, functions, and performance characteristics of transit technologies. Further, the implementation of new technologies can be described by their spatial, temporal, and user dimensions, i.e., where, when, and for whom is the technology implemented. These dimensions, along with the implementation context, determine the impacts of APTS technologies. To explore the availability of APTS technologies, technology suppliers were surveyed. They were asked about the features, functions, and performance of transit technologies, their testing and deployment in transit agencies, and their potential impacts on travelers and transit operators. The survey results suggest a trend toward transfer of data in real-time through electronic media and increased automation. It was found that about a dozen APTS technologies queried in the survey were commercially available for field testing. From a policy perspective, there is a need to develop a strategy that considers the individual and joint testing of two or more APTS technologies and facilitates synthesis of the resulting information. Individually, the benefits of APTS technologies may be limited, but, collectively, APTS technologies may have significant benefits. Cases of joint APTS technology implementations need to be designed, implemented and synthesized.