ASSESSMENT OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES FOR TRANSIT AND RIDESHARE APPLICATIONS. FINAL REPORT

The report presents the results of a study to examine advanced technologies and systems that can be applied to high occupancy vehicles, ridesharing and transit needs. Advanced technologies can be used to encourage the use of transit and rideshare facilities by improving their attractiveness and accessibility to travelers. In addition, they have the potential to increase the efficiency of transit and rideshare operations, reducing operational costs while offering higher levels of services to the public. Technologies were reviewed in the areas of traveler information systems, traffic management systems, fleet management and control systems, and automatic vehicle control systems. Within these areas, developments in the U.S., Europe and Japan were considered and a number of individual technologies were identified. The study also included a review of current moves toward a national intelligent vehicle-highway systems (IVHS) program. An outline of IVHS projects and activities directed at high occupancy vehicles, rideshare and transit vehicles has been prepared. These cover research, development, operational testing and standard setting activities for the technologies.