SHUTTLE VANS: THE OVERLOOKED TRANSIT ALTERNATIVE

Transportation planners hope to quadruple the fraction of commuting trips made via transit in greater Los Angeles, in order to meet air quality goals. But despite their best efforts, transit's share of the market continues to decline. Door-to-door van transit offers a potentially attractive alternative. Its full cost per round trip would be less than that of most rail and bus transit, and by offering door-to-door service it would appeal to those who now commute by car (because they value door-to-door travel time as highly as cost). The existing airport shuttle-van business offers a prototype of successful, unsubsidized, private-sector van service. Several public policies would greatly assist in creating a market for commuter vans. Rapid implementation of high occupancy vehicle lanes on all freeways would let shuttle vans offer trip times competitive with driving alone. Market pricing for both workplace parking and peak hour freeway access would further expand the market for van service. There would be many benefits from the creation of a large commuter van industry. A van industry would mean up to 100,000 new jobs for drivers, mechanics, dispatchers and administrators.

• Record URL:
  http://www.reason.org/ps176.html
• Corporate Authors:

  Reason Foundation

  3415 S Sepulveda Boulevard, Suite 400
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90034
• Authors:
  • Poole Jr, R W
  • Griffin, M
• Publication Date: 1994-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 27 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Door to door service; High occupancy vehicle lanes; High occupancy vehicles; Jobs; Pollutants; Public transit; Shuttle service; Travel time; Vans
• Uncontrolled Terms: Reduction (Decrease); Transit services
• Old TRIS Terms: Trip times
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00724589
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Policy Study No. 176
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 16 1996 12:00AM