CHARACTERISTICS OF URBAN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

This document is a handbook to be used by transportation planners for estimating the performance characteristics of urban transportation modes. The objective of this work is to provide a single source of sketch planning data on the most important performance characteristics of five contemporary urban transportation systems: rail (rapid rail and light rail); bus; highway-automobile; automated guideway; and pedestrian assistance systems, in a format that lends itself to easy reference. This handbook does not deal explicitly with passenger demand, but assesses only the supply or performance characteristics of urban transportation systems. All characteristics of systems related to demand are covered in separate reports: Characteristics of Urban Transportation Demand (Appendix - NTIS No. PB 294-989, A10 and the Main Volume - NTIS No. PB 293-220, A07). The eight supply parameters chosen for this report are: speed; capacity (service volume); labor inputs; operating costs; energy consumption; pollution (including emissions and noise); capital cost (including land, construction, structures and vehicles); and accident frequency. The level of detail at which these data are treated is suitable for use in sketch planning, or, the preliminary screening of possible transportation configurations or concepts in outline and with detail sufficient only to support broad policy decisions.

• Corporate Authors:

  System Design Concepts, Incorporated

  1010 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 600
  Washington, DC  United States  20005

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Reno, A T
  • Bixby, R H
• Publication Date: 1985-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 204 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated guideway transit; Automobiles; Buses; Energy consumption; Financial capital; Handbooks; Light rail transit; Moving sidewalks; Operating costs; Pollution; Productivity; Rapid transit; Safety; Speed; Transportation planning; Urban transportation
• Identifier Terms: Urban Mass Transportation Act
• Uncontrolled Terms: Capacity
• Old TRIS Terms: Umta section 6
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00455171
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-MA-06-0173-85-1
• Contract Numbers: MA-06-0173, DTUM60-84-C-71261
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 31 1988 12:00AM