BACKGROUND

During the past five years a variety of new urban mobility options have emerged that are built on the capabilities of new technology, including mobile device applications on smart phones and tablets that include GPS services. Customers can conveniently request and pay for their trips on their smart phones and can monitor vehicle location, arrival time, and trip progress. Most of the new technology-enabled mobility services started in the United States and quickly spread throughout the world. New companies have spurred additional urban mobility options that are more conveniently arranged and paid for than are traditional public and private urban transportation services. A hallmark of the new technology-enabled mobility services is customer convenience and satisfaction.

Despite the popularity of the new technology-enabled mobility services, they are not without their critics and their problems. While some cities and countries throughout the world have embraced the services, others have banned them because they operate outside of existing regulations that pertain to public safety, equity, and normal business practices. Some jurisdictions have imposed fines for continued operation. The new mobility services skirt many laws faced by other businesses, creating ill-will, protests, and litigation. While some local- and state-level jurisdictions are developing procedures and regulations to welcome the popular new technology-enabled mobility services in their community, others are not.

OBJECTIVE

Recognizing the limited budget for this project and the need for practical information, the objective of this project is to examine the near- and longer- term opportunities and challenges for public transportation services to learn from, build upon, and interface with new technology-enabled mobility services.  

STATUS: The project is completed and the final report has been published and available here: https://www.trb.org/Main/Blurbs/174653.aspx