Transportation Systems Overview

Transportation System

• Transportation systems encompass vehicles, guideways, terminal facilities, and control systems.
• They operate according to established procedures and schedules on land, water, and in the air.
• Transportation systems are a result of independent actions by private and public sectors, often driven by self-interest or public interest.
• Two types of traffic exist within transportation systems:
  • Freight: goods or items being transported.
  • Passenger: people or services being transported.

Developing a Transportation System

• Historically, attempts to develop comprehensive transport planning systems have faced challenges.
• Engineers and planners often failed to recognize the interdependencies between national, regional, and local transportation systems.
• Existing transportation systems have largely adapted to evolving land use patterns, rather than playing a proactive role in shaping them.

Factors Affecting Transportation Systems

• Mode Selection:
  • Each transportation mode possesses inherent advantages in terms of cost, travel time, convenience, and flexibility, influencing choices based on specific trip characteristics.
  • For example, automobiles offer reliability, comfort, flexibility, and widespread availability for personal transportation, while air travel is preferred for long distances and time-sensitive journeys.
• Supply and Demand:
  • The state of the economy significantly influences transportation demand.
    • High unemployment or fuel costs decrease transportation demand.
    • Introduction of more cost-effective modes increases demand for that mode and diminishes demand for older, less economical options.
  • Existing transportation facilities determine the supply of transportation services.
    • Low bridge tolls with minimal congestion result in lower travel costs.
    • Traffic congestion on highways increases travel costs and time due to increased fuel consumption and idling.
• Technology:
  • Technological advancements have profoundly impacted transportation equilibrium.
  • Jet aircraft revolutionized air travel, significantly reducing travel times compared to passenger ships.
  • High-speed rail lines, such as bullet trains, are becoming popular due to their speed, safety, and efficiency.
• Environmental Impact:
  • Transportation is a significant energy consumer, burning a substantial portion of the world's petroleum.
  • This contributes to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and global warming.
  • Government regulations and policies are implemented to control the negative environmental effects of transportation and encourage shifts from private to public transportation.

Transport Policy and Regulation

• Government policies and regulations play a crucial role in shaping transportation systems by addressing transportation challenges.
• Transportation policies aim to mitigate the monopolistic tendencies often observed in various transport modes.
• Unchecked competition can lead to market dominance by a single company, potentially resulting in monopolistic control.

Public Transportation

• A general term encompassing various transit services available in urban and rural areas, including:
  • Mass Transit: fixed routes, published schedules, designated networks, and specified stops (e.g., buses, light rail).
  • Paratransit: flexible and personalized services designed to replace fixed-route, fixed-schedule mass-transit lines (e.g., taxis, car rentals).
  • Ridesharing: shared transportation with two or more people traveling together via prearrangement (e.g., Uber, Grab).

Transportation Organizations

• Seven key categories of organizations involved in transportation:
  • Private Companies: available for hire (e.g., transport companies).
  • Regulatory Agencies: monitor transport companies (e.g., LTFRB).
  • Federal Agencies: national-level legislation (e.g., DOTr).
  • State and Local Agencies and Authorities: planning, design, and construction (e.g., DPWH).
  • Trade Associations: represent marketing and business interests (e.g., petroleum companies, automobile companies).

Trip Generation Analysis

• Three methods are employed to analyze and predict trip generation:
  • Cross-classification
  • Trip-rate analysis
  • Multiple regression analysis

Cross-Classification

• A technique developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to estimate home-based trip generation.
• Utilizes sub-models to relate household income, car ownership, trip production, and trip purpose to each other.
• These models are developed using travel surveys.

Cross-Classification Procedure

• Establish a relationship by tabulation between income category and household percentage.
• Establish a relationship by tabulation between income category and car ownership.
• Tabulate the number of trips per day based on car ownership and income category.
• Calculate the total number of trips per day generated in the zone.
• Calculate the total number of trips per day by purpose.

Explore the essential elements of transportation systems, including vehicles, guideways, and control systems. Understand the differences between freight and passenger transportation, as well as the challenges in developing comprehensive transport planning. This quiz provides insight into the historical context and factors influencing modern transportation systems.