Interregional Travel A New Perspective for Policy Making (2016) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Summary
Summary
Pages 1-9
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
Consideration is given to relevant experience in other countries, especially in providing intercity passenger rail. A central finding is that appropriate analytical tools and up-to-date data on long-distance travel in the United States are lacking, which complicates decisions about how to invest in the country's interregional corridors in ways that will serve future travelers most effectively and further other policy goals such as protecting the environment, enhancing safety, and curbing energy use.
|
From page 2... ...
KEY FINDINGS Because of outdated travel behavior survey data, long-distance travel is not nearly as well understood as local travel. Understanding of long-distance travel in the United States is informed mainly by the American Travel Survey (ATS)
|
From page 3... ...
It accommodates mostly solo travelers who lack access to automobiles, find driving too expensive or a car unnecessary at the destination, or want to make enjoyable or productive use of travel time through onboard amenities and the uninterrupted use of portable electronic devices. On the one hand, public officials noticing this renaissance might question whether capitalintensive transportation investments are needed or will be competitive with the low-cost private bus.
|
From page 4... ...
The absence of such a base increases the uncertainty associated with introducing competitive passenger service, particularly when a large commitment of public funds is needed for infrastructure development. The NEC is the only interregional corridor having train frequencies and schedule times that can compete successfully for market share with airlines, buses, and automobiles, and it accounts for most interregional train ridership in the United States.
|
From page 5... ...
Despite substantial demand uncertainty in a mostly untested rail market, the state of California is proceeding with a plan to build a new high-speed intercity passenger railway informed mainly by airline traffic and stated preference surveys as opposed to evaluations of the demand revealed by existing train ridership. Transportation planners there recognize that use of the main lines of freight railroads is not a practical option for establishing a schedule-competitive rail service and gradually building a strong ridership base.
|
From page 6... ...
interregional corridors. The NEC presents far less uncertainty with regard to the potential for passenger rail investments, including investments in high-speed rail, to confer benefits.
|
From page 7... ...
To encourage the development of urban transportation systems that are integrated and function well across a metropolitan region, the federal government has long required state and local authorities to coordinate their urban highway and transit investments. The goal of this coordination, which is often challenging to implement, is to guide transportation investments from a multimodal and multi jurisdictional perspective that is informed by sound data and objective analysis.
|
From page 8... ...
In addition, most large transportation investments require institutional coordination, which is absent in many interregional corridors. The findings from this study indicate how the transportation infrastructure in the United States is seldom planned, constructed, or operated with an eye to its effectiveness in serving people making interregional trips.
|
From page 9... ...
At times, the federal government has also helped in creating and supporting interregional bodies such as the NEC Commission and I-95 Corridor Coalition. These efforts not only offer conceptual models for coordinated transportation planning and programming but also indicate the importance of leadership by the federal government and USDOT in motivating and supporting implementation.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.