by Jaelen Loche | Dec 11, 2009 |
Authors: Susan A. Shaheen, Caroline Rodier, Tagan Blake, Jeffrey R. Lidicker, and Elliot Martin Date: December 2009 Abstract: Smart growth policy strategies attempt to control increasing auto travel, congestion, and vehicle emissions by redirecting new development into communities with a high-intensity mix of shopping, jobs, and housing that is served by high-quality modal alternatives to single occupant vehicles. The integration of innovative technologies with traditional modal options in transit-oriented developments (TODs) may be the key to providing the kind of high-quality transit service that can effectively compete with the automobile in suburban transit corridors. A major challenge, however, of such an integration strategy is the facilitation of a well-designed and seamless multi-modal connection infrastructure – both informational and physical. EasyConnect II explored the introduction and integration of multi-modal transportation services, both traditional and innovative technologies, at the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station during the initial construction phase of the Contra Costa Centre Transit Village (or TOD) in the East San Francisco Bay Area. The project explored the integration of following in this TOD: 1) shared-use, low-speed vehicles, 2) electronic lockers (“eLockers”) with reservation capabilities: smart transit-based parking technology; 3) a protocol for a webbased information system (Mobility Options Protocol or MOP) to obtain information about available modal options and transportation services; and 4) innovative distributed power generation technologies to help meet growing electrical loads associated with the introduction of advanced electronic transportation and information technology systems....
by Jaelen Loche | Sep 6, 2008 |
Authors: Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D. and Caroline J. Rodier, Ph.D. Date: September 2008 Abstract: Access from public transit stations to employment and home locations can be a significant barrier to public transportation use in many urban regions, which is also commonly known as the “first and last mile” problem. The EasyConnect field test operated from August 2005 to December 2006 to introduce shared-use electric bicycles, non-motorized bicycles, and Segway® Human Transporters (HTs) to employment centers in and around the Pleasant Hill BART District stations. EasyConnect linked 36 employees of 14 companies at the Contra Costa Centre and Fresenius Medical. Contra Costa Centre took over the management of the EasyConnect program, which is now called “Green Fleet” and is operating an expanded and upgraded fleet of Segway HTs, electric bicycles, and bikes. Although the EasyConnect program was initially designed to bridge the barriers to access from public transit stations to employment locations, the results of the field test indicated higher participation demand by Day Users (e.g., lunch, business meetings, errands) rather than by commuters. This may have been a function of the institutional support available for the program in the area. The Contra Costa Centre, which is walking distance from the Pleasant Hill BART station, was able to provide significantly more support to the program relative to employers and business centers further away from the station. The availability of the low-speed modes for Day Use at the Contra Costa Centre, however, may have allowed for a higher level of public transit use and carpool commuting. Even without accounting for such mode shifts, the evaluation results indicate net benefits for both...
by Jaelen Loche | Jun 1, 2006 |
Authors: Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D. and Caroline Rodier, Ph.D. Date: June 2006 Abstract: The EasyConnect Low-Speed Modes Linked to Transit Planning Project (TO 5113) project represents the integration of innovative strategies to enhance transit use during the development and construction of a suburban transit oriented development at the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station in the East San Francisco Bay Area. This planning project brings together a unique partnership including small technology businesses, transportation agencies, city and county government, and academia. The project components include the introduction of shared-use low speed mode vehicles and electronic lockers at the proposed TOD. The evaluation of the EasyConnect field operational test (TO 6113-the next phase of this initiative) will provide insights into whether the introduction and integration of low-speed modes and elockers at the Pleasant Hill BART station can significantly increase transit access/use and cost effectively provide a last mile solution...
by Jaelen Loche | Jul 1, 2005 |
Authors: Susan A. Shaheen, Ph.D., Caroline J. Rodier, Ph.D., and Joshua Seelig Dates: July 2005 Abstract: The integration of innovative technologies with traditional modal options in transit oriented developments (TODs) may be the key to providing the kind of high-quality transit service that can effectively compete with the automobile in suburban transit corridors. The EasyConnect II project represents a multi-technology integration of innovative strategies planned to enhance transit use during the development and construction of a suburban TOD at the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station in the East San Francisco Bay Area. The project team represents a unique partnership including small technology businesses, private developers, transportation agencies, city and county government, and academia. The project components include the introduction of shared-use low-speed mode vehicles, smart parking management systems, electronic lockers, and power supplied by a hydrogen fuel cell at the proposed TOD. The various technologies will seamlessly be linked over the Internet in formats accessible to both end-users and project planners. The evaluation of the proposed study will provide insight into whether the introduction and integration of innovative technologies at TODs can significantly increase transit access and use. If the innovations introduced in this study prove successful, then their application could be expanded throughout the region, California, and the nation....
by Jaelen Loche | Oct 1, 2003 |
Authors: Matthew Barth and Susan A. Shaheen Dates: October 2003 Abstract: In the past, the majority of Chinese cities have developed with low-levels of automobile dependence, resulting in high-density centers that are well served by transit. However, a number of policies and factors are now in place that promote “motorization”, resulting in increased automobile dependency in these cities. Increased personal automobile ownership in China is having a significant impact on the quality of human life in terms of land use, pollutant emissions, greenhouse gases, and energy supplies. Rather than embracing personalized automobile ownership that competes with traditional transit, China is well positioned to adopt an innovative mobility option: shared-use vehicle systems. The general principle of a shared-use vehicle system, often referred to as carsharing or station cars, is that individuals can access a fleet of shared vehicles (ranging from cars to bikes and scooters) on an as-needed basis, rather than using personally-owned vehicles for the majority of their trips. Shared-use vehicles offer the convenience of a private automobile and more flexibility than public transportation alone. There are many advantages to shared-use vehicle systems, including: 1) improving transportation efficiency by reducing the number of (private) vehicles required to meet total travel demand; as a result, vehicles spend less idle time in parking lots and are used more frequently by several users; 2) reducing individuals’ transportation costs since vehicle expenses (e.g., payments, insurance, maintenance) are shared among all system users; 3) achieving energy and emission benefits when low-polluting vehicles (e.g., electric, gas-electric hybrid, natural gas) comprise the shared-use vehicle fleet; and 4) increasing transit ridership when individuals use shared vehicles via...
