Evaluating the Efficiency of Transportation Services on Intermodal Commuter Networks

The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA, 1991) and the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) stress the development of transportation strategies which utilize existing infrastructures efficiently. This new focus created a need for new analytical tools to evaluate intermodal networks encompassing a wide variety and geography of needs. The broad transportation strategy aism to reduce reliance on individual vehicles while promoting a wide spectrum of more efficient alterantives. A model for evaluating intermodal networks is developed, based on the goals of increasing the efficiency of mass transit, reducing congestion, reducing energy consumption, and reducing emissions.