Modes of Transportation

1. Modes of Transportation Dr. TALEB M. AL-ROUSAN

2. Modes of Transportations • Highways • Urban Transit • Air • Rail • Water • Pipelines • Other Modes (Cable & built systems, magnetic levitation in conjunction with linear induction motors for high speed ground transportation).

3. Modes of Transportation Intercity Travel: Short trips (< 160 km). Medium trips (160 – 800 km). Long trips (> 800 km).

4. Advantages & Complementary of Modes • Each of the modes usually complements the others in carrying the nation’s freight and passengers. • Business trip around the country: taxi……airplane….. Auto…. • Freight transport: trucks (for pick up and delivery)…….railroads for long distance hauling. • Each mode has inherent advantages of: Cost, travel time, convenience, and flexibility that make it “ Right for the job” under a certain set of circumstances. • Example: • Automobile: reliable, comfortable, flexible, and ubiquitous. • Air transport: When distance are great and time is premium. • intercity bus :When cost is important and time is not, or auto is not available.

5. Modes of Transportations Cont. • Effectiveness of modes is described in terms of accessibility of the mode, level of mobility it provides, and its productivity. • Accessibility: Cost of getting to and from the mode in question and depend primarily on geographical extensiveness. • Mobility: Described in terms of speed or travel time. • Productivity: Measure of the total amount of transportation (product of the volume of goods or passengers carried and distance) provided per unit time. (ton-miles/yr) or (passengers-kilometers/ day). • Cost (capital and operating).

6. Modes of Transportation/ Highway System • Dominant Transportation mode. • Used by private vehicles, truck lines, and bus lines. • High accessibility to almost all potential destinations. • Direct service with very low door-to-door travel times. • Moderate line-haul speeds. • Moderate capacities.

7. Modes of Transportation/ Highway System • Capital cost of physical facilities vary a great deal depending on type and capacity of roadway, but as an overall its Moderate. • Vehicles are relatively small which make them cheaper and available more than other modes. • Operating cost tend to be relatively high. • High environmental impact.

8. Modes of Transportation/ Urban Transit System • Includes traditional mass transit modes (buses, street cars (taxi), light rail and rail rapid transit). • Transit passengers: • Commuters or Choice riders: Persons making work trips into dense central business districts (CBD). • Captive riders: Persons without access to automobiles (school children, senior citizens, single-auto families, others with economically or physically disadvantaged).

9. Modes of Transportation/ Urban Transit System • Line-haul speed vary a great deal depending on the mode used but generally lower than automobiles except in CBD and for rail rapid transit. • Greater travel times except in cases mentioned above. • Accessibility is less than autos. • High capacities. • Capital cost for rail are high and for buses are comparable to autos. • Moderate operating cost. • Environmental impacts are lower than autos.

10. Modes of Transportation/ Air Transportation System • Includes: Commercial airlines, airfreight carriers, and general aviation (private aircraft). • Major market: Intercity long-distance travel. • High line-haul speed. • Limited accessibility. • Moderate capacity. • High productivity. • High capital and operating costs. • Environmental impacts are significant (noise) but of much less concern than highway system.

11. Modes of Transportation/ Rail Transportation System • Prime market: intercity freight. • Passenger rail trips are short to intermediate. • Moderate speed. • Moderate accessibility. • High capital cost. • Productivity is low. • Operating cost per ton-mile are low. • Environmental impact is relatively low.

12. Modes of Transportation/ Water Transportation System • Consist of coastwise ocean shipping and barge lines operating on inland waterways. • Major types of oceangoing freighters include: • Container ships • Bulk cargo carriers • Oil tankers. • Market : intercity freight. • Inland waterways and coastwise shipping specialize in bulk goods.

13. Modes of Transportation/ Water Transportation System Cont. • Low speed. • Low accessibility • High capacity. • Capital cost is high. • Operating cost per ton-mile are extremely low. • Environmental impact is relatively low but water pollution is a significant problem.

14. Modes of Transportation/ Pipeline Transportation System • Highly specialized freight transportation system. • Market: Crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas. • Low speed. • High capacity. • Continuous flow. • Low cost (capital cost is 80% of total cost and operating cost is very low depending on pumping cost). • Low environmental impact.

15. Modes of Transportation/ Other Modes • Not Major Players in transportation system. • Cable & built systems: • Transporting freights within industrial complexes. • Transporting passengers (ski lefts and moving belts in airports) • Novel modes under development: Magnetic levitation in conjunction with linear induction motors for high speed ground transportation.

16. Public Transportation • All the family of transit services available to urban and rural residents. • Mass transit: fixed routes, published schedules, vehicle such as buses and light rail, or rapid transit with specific stops. • Para transit: more flexible and personalized service than mass transit in route and schedule, available on demand by subscription or on a shared-ride basis. • Ridesharing: two or more persons traveling together by prearrangement such as carpool, vanpool, buspool, or share-ride taxi.

17. Public Transportation Cont. • It can provide high capacity, energy efficient movement in densely traveled corridors. • It serves medium and low density areas for both choice and captive riders. • Transit ridership declined due to: • Increased auto ownership, • shifts to low density suburbs, • relocation of industry and commerce a way from the central city • changing in life style

18. Potential Changes Influencing Transit Usage • Bad for transit • Growth of suburb • Industry or employment moving from the central city. • Growth in private vehicle ownership. • Increased diversity in in vehicle types such as SUV’s, pickup trucks, and RV’s. • High labor cost • high cost per mile to construct rail-transit lines.

19. Potential Changes Influencing Transit Usage • Good for transit • Emphasis by federal government on air quality. • Higher prices of gasoline • Locating of Mega centers in suburbs • Increased number of seniors who cannot or choose not to drive. • Trends toward higher density living. • need for airport access and circulation within airports.

20. Potential Changes Influencing Transit Usage • Neutral for transit • Increase in telecommuting may require less travel to a work site. • Internet shopping or commerce could reduce shopping trips. • Changes in work schedule to accommodate child care could increase trip chaining. • Staggering work hours, flex-time, and four-day work weeks reduce peak-hour congestion. • Aging population, not transit users, may continue to drive. • Increased popularity in walking and biking could be a substitute for transit riding.