the role of universities in advancing advanced transit alain l. kornhauser chairman, advanced...
TRANSCRIPT
The Role of Universities in
Advancing Advanced Transit
Alain L. Kornhauser
Chairman, Advanced Transit Association (ATRA)
Professor, Operations Research & Financial EngineeringDirector, Program in Transportation
Founder, ALK Technologies, Inc.and
Vice Chairman, New Jersey Commission on Science and Technology
Presented at US-Sweden Livability Workshop
Washington, DCNovember 30, 2011
40 years ago…
• Universities played a significant role in advancing Advanced Transit (implementation of automation into mass transportation)
– Automated Rail Systems @ Berkeley & MIT
40 years ago…
• Universities played a significant role in advancing Advanced Transit (implementation of automation into mass transportation)
– Focus on Airport Systems @ CMU & Texas
40 years ago…
• Universities played a significant role in advancing Advanced Transit (implementation of automation into mass transportation)
– PRT focus at U of Minn., U of Wash & Princeton
40 years ago…
• Univ. effort was motivated by R&D funding from UMTA, which also funded:– Transpo 72 (Major exposition at Dulles)
40 years ago…
• Univ. effort was motivated by R&D funding from UMTA, which also funded:– DPMs,
40 years ago…
• Univ. effort was motivated by R&D funding from UMTA, which also funded:– GRT@DFW
40 years ago…
• Univ. effort was motivated by R&D funding from UMTA, which also funded:– Morgantown
Along the way…
• Nothing much…
But Today…
• Masdar & Heathrow are operational
But Today…
• Advances are being made with autonomous vehicles
But Today…
• Unfortunately… Little Federal Funding..
• Connected Vehicles Applications• Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communications for Safety
• Intelligent Transportation Systems for Transit• University Transportation Centers Program
Appendix B: Potential Transit Research TopicsSafetySafety culture and trainingSafety incident reportingEngineering and testing of vehicles, equipment, and infrastructureApplications of safety management systems to public transportationState of Good RepairAsset managementPerformance metricsTransit infrastructure data collection and analysisTransit maintenance - best and new practicesEngineering of vehicles and equipmentImpacts of system reliability on ridershipCapital maintenance funding balance and relationship to service levelsEconomic CompetitivenessWorkforce development and training/human resourcesTransit and job creationTransit system operations and service planning - best and new practicesTransit system management, administration, and financeTransit and economic development/value captureService availability levels and impacts on public benefits and ridership levelsOperations and funding issuesLivable CommunitiesTransit-Oriented Development (TOD)Bike/pedestrian research — first mile, last mileRural/tribal/parks/paratransit researchAffordable housing and transitTransit access, social equity, and mobilityTransit and High Speed Rail (HSR) interconnectivityEnvironmental SustainabilityLand use planningClimate change mitigation and adaptationMetropolitan planningAlternative energy and transit.
University Transportation Centers Program - 2011 Grants Solicitation (Nothing about Advanced Transit! Livable Communities???)
Universities Could Help…
• Very effectively and substantively…
Little thought to date about how Advanced Transit could help mitigate some of the World Bank “Automobile Futures”• Developing strategies that not only dis-incentivise the
automobile but also produce not only a viable alternative, but even a substantially better alternative
• Better alternative, not only by itself, but how it enhances existing modes• “last mile” problem of Conventional and High Speed Rail
• Training the next generation of planners
Universities Could Help…
• Very effectively and substantively…
Fundamental issues:• Automation and its necessity for extremely high
Since 1976: >1.35M Highway deaths USSince 1776: ~1.25 M US Military Death, All Wars!!
Maybe we shouldn't be driving!
Universities Could Help…
• Very effectively and substantively…
Fundamental issues:• Automation and its necessity for extremely high
• image processing for object detection• Visualization, animation, simulation, virtual reality• Low-weight designs • Demand modeling• Implementation strategies (NIMBY studies)• Environmental Assessments• Financing/implementation strategies
Universities Could Help…
• Very effectively and substantively…• Extend University Transportation Centers Program
Internationally– Begin with Sweden