Start Date

4-1970 8:00 AM

Description

Land transportation in America today is a paradox of technological development. Our most successful systems seem to cause as many national problems as they solve. Yet our most unsuccessful systems seem to offer many of the solutions we seek. So we are in a period of rethinking and self analysis with respect to national surface transportation development.

In addition to determining the necessary technology and systems consistent with mobility requirements, we must consider the often intangible social goals of the nation. For this reason, many of the systems analysis techniques which have proved so successful in military and aerospace applications cannot be used unaided, or without substantial modification, on transportation planning and other civilian problems. Unlike the space and defense programs, transportation planning must satisfy consumers and nonusers and be responsive to both market and political processes. Because of these constraints, surface transportation planning is exceedingly complex.

The need to provide options and alternatives for a decade or more further complicates planning analyses and evaluations. The obligation to respond to the will of the people expressed through the democratic process means that the development of large municipal or regional systems must evolve by consensus, rather than by Federal fiat. Some new systems may incorporate technological breakthrough, but others must be limited by what has been planned or built before in an evolutionary manner.

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Apr 1st, 8:00 AM

New Frontiers In Surface Transportation

Land transportation in America today is a paradox of technological development. Our most successful systems seem to cause as many national problems as they solve. Yet our most unsuccessful systems seem to offer many of the solutions we seek. So we are in a period of rethinking and self analysis with respect to national surface transportation development.

In addition to determining the necessary technology and systems consistent with mobility requirements, we must consider the often intangible social goals of the nation. For this reason, many of the systems analysis techniques which have proved so successful in military and aerospace applications cannot be used unaided, or without substantial modification, on transportation planning and other civilian problems. Unlike the space and defense programs, transportation planning must satisfy consumers and nonusers and be responsive to both market and political processes. Because of these constraints, surface transportation planning is exceedingly complex.

The need to provide options and alternatives for a decade or more further complicates planning analyses and evaluations. The obligation to respond to the will of the people expressed through the democratic process means that the development of large municipal or regional systems must evolve by consensus, rather than by Federal fiat. Some new systems may incorporate technological breakthrough, but others must be limited by what has been planned or built before in an evolutionary manner.

 

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