German 'Smart Bus' Systems, Potential For Application In Portland, Oregon, Volume 1, Technical Report

NHTSA · 1993 · ROSA P / United States. Joint Program Office for Intelligent Transportation Systems

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Summary

This 1993 technical report, prepared for the Federal Transit Administration and Tri-Met, evaluates the potential application of German "Smart Bus" systems in Portland, Oregon. The study addresses the declining cost-effectiveness of public transportation in low-density suburban areas, where fixed-route bus and rail services struggle to compete with private automobiles. Motivated by rising traffic congestion, increasing taxpayer subsidies for transit, and the dispersion of jobs and residences into suburbs, the report investigates whether computer-telecommunications technologies can improve transit efficiency. Specifically, it examines the Flexible Operations Command and Control System (FOCCS), a German system that integrates flexible-route minibuses and taxis with fixed-route services, allowing passengers to request rides via telephone rather than costly physical kiosks. The methodology involves a review of the history and operational mechanics of German systems like Ruf-Bus and FOCCS, alongside a cost-benefit analysis comparing these systems to previous U.S. attempts, such as the failed Santa Clara County dial-a-ride program. The report also explores potential enhancements to FOCCS for the U.S. market, specifically the integration of videotex and audiotex information services. This enhanced concept, termed VIXEN (VIdeoteX-ENhanced FOCCS), aims to facilitate single-trip carpooling, parataxis, and rideshare matching. The study utilizes census data, transit financial reports, and congestion indices to contextualize the problem and projects the potential impact of VIXEN on ridership and costs. The findings indicate that while FOCCS alone may not significantly increase ridership or reduce costs for U.S. agencies, the addition of videotex-based information services could substantially improve performance. Preliminary market research suggests that a VIXEN system could reduce single-occupant automobile use by over 20% in low-density suburban areas. The report concludes that such a system could help Tri-Met achieve its goal of tripling transit ridership over 15 years while simultaneously reducing costs and subsidies per passenger trip. The study recommends an operational test of VIXEN/FOCCS concepts in the Lake Oswego-West Linn area, a low-density suburb with terrain suitable for congestion pricing, which could help finance the test. The significance of this report lies in its proposal to redefine mass transit to include flexible, technology-driven services suited for suburban environments. It argues that traditional transit expansion is insufficient to address suburban congestion and that integrating telecommunications with flexible routing can create a more cost-effective, integrated transportation network. By linking transportation services with other information services like home banking and teleshopping, the report suggests that transit agencies could generate new revenues and reduce vehicle-miles traveled. The study serves as a foundational analysis for the Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) program, advocating for the adoption of intelligent transportation technologies to solve mobility problems in growing metropolitan areas.

Key finding

A VIXEN system combining FOCCS with videotex and audiotex services could reduce single-occupant automobile use by work commuters by over 20 percent in low-density suburban areas.

Methodology

review

Provenance

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