Novel Transportaton Modes-Future Research & Support Needs
The research team identified several areas where USDOT could enhance its support of new concepts in surface transportation. These are outlined below:
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance could be provided to State and local agencies on how to reduce institutional barriers to innovation. Some of the barriers identified include inflexible public procurement processes, workforce issues, and budget uncertainties. The promotion of information exchange is an established Federal role in transportation, and the USDOT already has several programs that promote peer-to-peer learning among State and local agencies. One possibility would be a case study or “lessons learned” research based on selected local agencies that have had prior success in this area.
Improved Access
Improved access to Federal research facilities and test beds is another area where USDOT could enhance its support of new concepts. Where security and other considerations permit, providing greater access to these facilities would allow innovators to test and refine their concepts and gather data that can be used for evaluation. The availability of test beds is an important part of moving toward greater technological readiness. Moreover, evidence of successful and safe operation in a closed setting is often required before transportation agencies will entertain the prospect of a demonstration project on public roadways.
Travel-Demand Forecasts
Further research into improving travel-demand forecasts and mode-choice models would help to support new concepts in transportation. The evolving transportation landscape, demographic and attitudinal changes, volatile fuel prices, and other factors have made it more difficult for planners and modelers to forecast travel demand and mode choice. This has presented challenges for both conventional and novel modes, but improved modeling capabilities are particularly important for assessing the viability and cost-effectiveness of new concepts.
Outreach Activities
Outreach to connect innovators with Federal programs and universities is another area where USDOT can enhance its efforts. USDOT can help to connect transportation innovators with its existing programs, such as the Small Business Innovation Research program and the EAR Program, as well as foster connections to related programs at other Federal agencies. Universities are also a potentially valuable source of research and evaluation support for novel concepts. USDOT can play a role in facilitating outreach between innovators and universities, either through informal outreach or more formally through the University Transportation Centers Program.
Testing and Validating
Further research into new paradigms for testing and validation of complex systems would also help to support new concepts in transportation. Concepts involving artificial intelligence or automation often cannot be adequately tested using conventional methods and must incorporate simulation and other elements into their validation approaches. This is an emerging area with many current research efforts, and it is an important one for novel modes because of the risk-averse nature of many transportation agencies. USDOT could have a role to play in sponsoring further research in this area and disseminating findings.
Testing, Standards, and Certification
Support is also needed for independent testing, standards, and certification. Novel transportation modes are likely to require standardization to address investment, safety, and operational risks before they become economically and socially viable. USDOT could work with the National Institute of Standards and Testing, or private independent standards and testing institutions, to set specifications and protocols for an incipient technology. This would aid in developing and establishing consistent standards and compliance testing for infrastructure and operations of novel modes.
Conclusion
This report on FHWA’s novel surface transportation modes research, sponsored by the EAR Program, discusses the current state of novel surface transportation modal concepts, identifies opportunities and challenges for these concepts, and presents a set of potential future research and technical support needs. Information in this report has been summarized from research on novel modes along with the viewpoints shared at the Novel Surface Transportation Modes workshop, convened by the EAR Program in December 2014.
Transportation technologies evolve over time in response to changing societal needs and technological advances. The 20th century saw the rise of privately owned motor vehicles traveling on public roadways as the dominant surface transportation in the United States, complemented by bus and rail services. These conventional modes provide a very high level of mobility and flexibility and set a high bar for novel modes to overcome in garnering public interest and market share. Interest in novel concepts remains high, in part because of high societal costs and other limitations of current modes.
Modal concepts reviewed in this project were largely relatively early in their technical maturity, although a few are closer to implementation. Each concept is unique, though many involve common elements such as automation and advanced propulsion and control. Some concepts have been designed for widespread adoption and displacement of current modes, whereas others are highly targeted to particular applications. As documented previously in this report, changing personal travel behavior and societal needs, along with emerging technological innovations, could present challenges for these novel modes but may also spur demand for new mobility options. USDOT will continue to monitor these developments and fund critical transportation research to improve passenger and freight transportation system in the United States.
The research team for this study identified four key outstanding challenges common to novel mode development. These challenges include (1) addressing connections to existing modes and last-mile issues, (2) increasing attention given to passenger experience and comfort, (3) improving accuracy of predicting travel demand and mode choice, and (4) enhancing management and mitigation of risk from an investor perspective.
Researchers for this study also identified six key opportunities for innovators that are common among novel modes. These opportunities include:
- Engaging with Government agencies outside of the transportation sector (e.g., DOD, DOE, or HHS).
- Engaging with State and local agencies.
- Addressing changes in travel patterns and a greater openness to new transportation modes.
- Working with universities for testing, prototype development, and research.
- Working together to develop standards in collaboration with Government and other stakeholders.
- Taking advantage of unique settings that may be most conducive to a new transportation system (e.g., self-contained campuses, airports, and other facilities) or to a specific market (e.g., freight, passenger, or locations with limited, legacy infrastructure such as with emerging economies or significant shifts in land-use and settlement patterns).
By taking advantage of these opportunities, innovators would be able to address many of the key concerns relating to investor and societal risk of adopting novel modes and would enhance the likelihood of investment.
The research team also identified six opportunities for USDOT to facilitate the development and deployment of novel modes. These opportunities include:
- Providing technical support to State and local agencies to reduce barriers to innovation.
- Supporting access to Federal research facilities and test beds.
- Improving travel-demand and mode-choice models.
- Facilitating connections between innovators and university and Government researchers.
- Developing novel testing facilities and paradigms.
- Supporting independent testing, standardization, and specifications.
Addressing these opportunities would greatly enhance the societal environment for innovation with regard to novel transportation modes within the United States.