FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF URBAN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION. CONFERENCE PURPOSE

The specific objective of the conference is to investigate the near-term outlook and policy options for urban public transportation facilities and services over the next decade and beyond. A series of five overview stage-setting papers were prepared on the subjects of energy and communications, land use and transportation, economic base, public finance, and the future of urban public transportation. These papers were summarized by the conference consultant at the start of the meeting, and the authors were given the opportunity to comment or to clarify their views. This material, including the five overview papers, is contained in Part 4 of these proceedings. In addition, a series of five issue papers directly related to various urban public transportation issues was prepared and summarized by the authors at the conference. Edited versions of these papers appear in Part 5 of these proceedings. Building on these background materials and presentations, the conference participants began a dialog in an attempt to reach consensus on future directions. The first step in the dialog was a plenary session discussion of recent trends and conditions that have been contributing to the difficulties now facing public transportation. This discussion is summarized in Part 2. After that session the conference participants broke into small discussion groups to begin the strategic planning process that resulted in the conclusions summarized in Part 3. (Author)