Intro to Transportation Systems

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Dr. James Doss-Gollin

Tue., Sep. 24

History of Transport on Wikipedia

The history of transport is largely one of technological innovation. Here, first known depiction of a wheeled vehicle, estimated 5000 BCE roughly.

Via Appia on Wikipedia

Day by Day on Substack

Current Transportation Systems

Today

1. Current Transportation Systems

2. Transportation, Energy, and Climate

3. Transportation, Land Use, and Liveability

4. Transportation and Congestion

5. Solutions

6. Wrapup

Peter Bregg, Nyanza province, Kenya

Today we’re going to lay out problems with current transportation systems, but it’s important to note that these problems are really by-products of solving other, very real, problems.

Rafael Prieto-Curiel

Spend some time discussing how to read this triangle chart!

US VMT over Time

VMT Varies by State

Not all transportation is for people

Transportation is Dangerous

Transportation, Energy, and Climate

Today

1. Current Transportation Systems

2. Transportation, Energy, and Climate

3. Transportation, Land Use, and Liveability

4. Transportation and Congestion

5. Solutions

6. Wrapup

Play around a bit with region

Sustainable Development Scenario

This is a scenario

Emissions per Mile

Transportation, Land Use, and Liveability

Today

1. Current Transportation Systems

2. Transportation, Energy, and Climate

3. Transportation, Land Use, and Liveability

4. Transportation and Congestion

5. Solutions

6. Wrapup

Discussion Question

Two Minutes

What is the town or city you’ve most enjoyed spending time in? Why?

Geoff Manaugh and Nicola Twilley for The Atlantic

Origin unclear, via Twitter

Question: how do you think this might be calculated?

Transportation and Congestion

Today

1. Current Transportation Systems

2. Transportation, Energy, and Climate

3. Transportation, Land Use, and Liveability

4. Transportation and Congestion

5. Solutions

6. Wrapup

Source: INRIX

Bangkok Post

Solutions

Today

1. Current Transportation Systems

2. Transportation, Energy, and Climate

3. Transportation, Land Use, and Liveability

4. Transportation and Congestion

5. Solutions

6. Wrapup

Discussion Question

Two Minutes

What are some mobility solutions you’ve heard about? What problems do they solve? What problems do they leave?

Electric Vehicles

We're going to need lots of electric vehicles. I mean, lots. But here's one challenge with relying only on electrifying cars for our climate policy: cars last a long time. We need EVs for clunkers. But also need to move more while driving less. Paper here: https://t.co/HyAnKemQL8 pic.twitter.com/eL5kBAfwHW

— Costa Samaras ((CostaSamaras?)) January 12, 2021

• Zero emissions at the tailpipe
• Reduced emissions over the vehicle’s lifetime
• Gets cleaner as the grid gets cleaner
• Batteries can be recycled
• Still cars!

Public Transit

Reddit

Autonomous Vehicles

Solving the last-mile problem

Zoox AEV, via EV Magazine

Improving comfort and safety

Mercedes-Benz Concept

Local Safety Improvements

Zero pedestrian fatalities for four years in Hoboken, NJ

NACTO

Congestion Pricing

Guilherme Larangeira for Streetsblog Opinion

Wrapup

Today

1. Current Transportation Systems

2. Transportation, Energy, and Climate

3. Transportation, Land Use, and Liveability

4. Transportation and Congestion

5. Solutions

6. Wrapup

Thursday

• Dr. Jamie Padgett will discuss Resilient Mobility
• A short reading assignment will be posted on Canvas by this evening

Next Week

• Tuesday 10/1: I am traveling, Dr. Xinwu Qian will discuss Mobility of the Future
• Thursday 10/3: In-class presentations for project 1