SEMINAR ON RESEARCH NEEDS IN TRANSIT OPERATIONS

The relation of transit operations to a broad range of problems was discussed at the seminar, and short-term and long-term research needs were identified. Two major sources of problems call for immediate solution: the financial crisis faced by the carriers; the lack of transit service or the decreasing quality of service faced by the public. Current trends have prompted the transit industry to become interested in technological or institutional innovations that might reduce costs of operation. New vehicle designs and the implementation of new subsystems on conventional transit lines were discussed, as well as options for changing the regulatory constraints of operation. It was agreed that more resources need to be devoted to research in mass transit, especially in areas leading to short term solutions. It was also agreed that any long-term research program in urban transportation must be one that is coordinated with, if not an integral part of, research related to the general character of urban society in the future. Points on which there was substantial agreement are listed. These points relate to: the need for research to traveller response to changes in transit operations; identification options in transit technology; the efficacy of innovative technology such as dial-a-bus; changes in the operations of mass transit; cooperation among all agencies and the various modes; the need for staff who can use the results of transit research.