Planning for successful intermodal guideway transit systems

Guideway transit systems have seen a renaissance as they have captured the interest of the public, passengers, and decision makers as important infrastructure investments necessary to meet America's growing transportation needs. These systems have proven effective in serving high volume, established transit markets, but are increasingly proposed as a key element of intermodal systems to meet transportation needs in lower density, rapidly growing areas. Providing intermodal connections between airports and seaports, bus and rail systems, as well as public and private transportation is an important element in a comprehensive transportation system. Several factors including economic constraints, environmental concerns, and political and neighborhood concerns have constrained the pace of roadway expansion and resulted in the roadway system and existing transit services being unable to provide the quality or quantity of transportation services the citizens desire. All of these factors support the need for new, advanced, and effective mass transit systems which ride on their own guideways as part of the solution to urban transportation problems. This paper addresses the issues to be considered by urban areas whose search for transportation solutions include fixed guideway transit systems.