NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN MASS TRANSIT TECHNOLOGY

THIS PAPER BEGINS WITH A DISCUSSION OF TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS AND INNOVATIONS IN THE USE OF BUSES AND OTHER CONVENTIONAL VEHICLE MODES. AMONG THESE ARE EXCLUSIVE BUS LANES, EXCLUSIVE BUSWAYS, ARTICULATED BUSES, BUSES FITTED WITH RAIL WHEELS, THE BIMODAL BUS, AND DIAL-A-BUS SYSTEMS. THE POTENTIAL ADVANTAGES ARE FLEXIBILITY OF OPERATION, INCREASED CAPACITY, IMPROVED OFF-PEAK SERVICE, LOWER LEVELS OF NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION, REDUCED CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS THROUGH THE USE OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY: AIR CUSHION SUSPENSION, MAGNETIC SUSPENSION, LINEAR INDUCTION MOTORS. SELECTED EXAMPLES OF VEHICLES USED IN INTERCITY SYSTEMS, HIGH CAPACITY SHORT DISTANCE URBAN SYSTEMS, AND INTERMEDIATE CAPACITY SYSTEMS ARE ILLUSTRATED.