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By Barbara Knecht

Knowing where the vehicles are at any moment means being able to inform passengers of when to expect the next bus, just as rail systems commonly do already. It also means that adjustments can be made quickly to respond to emergencies or other short-term events. Collecting information on who goes where and when will improve route and capacity planning for better service design on average days. Small buses can run on low-volume routes during the rush hour and on higher-volume routes to increase frequency in the nonrush periods. Schedules between bus feeders and rail transit can be coordinated for expected connections.

Way down the road

There is, of course, also a system to appeal to those who want their own vehicle to go where they want, when they want. Skyweb Express (www.skywebexpress.com), SkyTran (www.skytran.net), and CyberTran (www.cybertran.com) are just three variations on Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) that comes on demand and takes you to your specific destination—as long as it is on the guideway system. In its most common form, small cars that may hold from two to 20 people run on lightweight elevated tracks or guideways. Stations, which can even be located within buildings, are off the guideway, so other traffic moves freely past loading and unloading vehicles. Rather than traveling on fixed routes, passengers program the vehicle, just like an elevator, for pick up and drop off anywhere along the network. Proponents cite convenience, safety, energy-efficiency, and low capital costs as advantages. These are still the domain of The Jetsons, but someday, in a well-connected transportation network, they may become a reality, too.

Renderings: Douglas J. Malewicki, AeroVisions

In the robust transportation system of the future, we will have many surface modes, each doing what it does best: longer distances at very high speeds; medium distances by thoroughly integrated networks; and short distances by bicycle, car hire, self drive, or PRT that reach every door.

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