California Smart Traveler System, Final Report

Behnke, Robert W. · 1992 · ROSA P / United States. Federal Transit Administration

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Summary

This report, prepared by Aegis Transportation Information Systems for the Federal Transit Administration and Caltrans, evaluates the feasibility of the California Smart Traveler (CST) System. The project aims to utilize Intelligent Vehicle-Highway Systems (IVHS) technologies, specifically audiotex and videotex, to develop and integrate new public transportation modes, such as "parataxis" (single-trip carpools), with conventional transit. The primary motivation is to reduce traffic congestion, gasoline consumption, and air pollution while improving the cost-effectiveness of regional transportation services through timely, accurate traveler information. The study employed a ten-task methodology to model supply and demand, design system architecture, and identify test sites. Researchers developed linear models to estimate driver supply and rider demand based on compensation and fare levels, utilizing data from a U.S. Department of Energy survey on vanpool incentives and Hawaii commuter surveys on paratransit interest. The analysis determined equilibrium fare points where driver supply matched rider demand, identifying a "worst-case" fare of 20 cents per mile (yielding 30% commuter switch) and a "best-case" fare of 9 cents per mile (yielding 45% switch). The report also proposed a distance-based fare structure and a security system involving closed-user groups, PINs, and criminal background checks to address safety concerns. Key findings include the identification of five recommended test sites in California: Tri-Valley, UCLA/Westwood, North City TMA, Roseville, and Simi Valley. These locations were selected based on high traffic congestion, significant employer bases, and existing transportation management associations. The report concludes that implementing parataxi services could attract at least 20% of single-occupant vehicle commuters, potentially reducing traffic congestion delays in large urban areas by approximately 50%. The proposed CST system design emphasizes an "open architecture" using UNIX and SQL to support multiple input devices, including touch-tone telephones, personal computers, and future mobile terminals, ensuring accessibility and adaptability. The significance of this work lies in its demonstration that existing transportation capacity is underutilized due to poor management rather than resource scarcity. By leveraging telecommunications to coordinate single-trip carpools and provide real-time information, the CST system offers a low-cost solution to mobility and environmental problems. The report highlights that such systems can integrate diverse transit modes, reduce reliance on single-occupant vehicles for short-distance trips, and provide a secure, user-friendly alternative to traditional public transit, thereby enhancing overall system efficiency and reducing taxpayer costs.

Key finding

A fare of 20 cents per mile would result in approximately 30 percent of commuters switching to parataxi services under a worst-case scenario, while a fare of 9 cents per mile would attract 45 percent under a best-case scenario.

Methodology

modeling

Provenance

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