Transportation 101 - Introduction To Transportation Infrastructure
Sustainable Transportation Curriculum for Universities
Slide 1
Transportation 101: Introduction to Transportation Infrastructure
Slide 2
Defining Transportation
- Transportation broadly refers to the movement of people and goods
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Transportation systems include:
- People/goods being moved
- Vehicles transporting them
- Physical infrastructure (e.g., roadways, railways, terminals, and stations)
- Operations that facilitate the movement
Slide 3
Transportation Infrastructure Components and Terminology
Roads
Railways
Walkways
Tunnels
Stations
Airports
Airways
Waterways
Ports
Cycling Infrastructure
Right of Way
Last Mile
Slide 4
Development and Operation of Transportation Infrastructure
- Transportation system infrastructure and services are usually developed and managed by multiple (mostly public-sector) entities
- These entities operate under a governance framework specific to their nation or region. Decision making occurs within this context.
- While approaches to transportation decision making vary, they generally aim to achieve certain higher-level goals or objectives.
Slide 5
Transportation Agency Roles and Responsibilities
In the United States, several agencies are responsible for transportation at the federal, state, regional, and local levels
Funding for most transportation capital investment projects is from federal sources
Planning is conducted at the state and regional/local level following applicable federal regulations and guidance
Decision making occurs at the local level to reflect needs and priorities of communities and stakeholders
Slide 6
Transportation Planning and Delivery Process
STEPS
- Identify goals/problems to be solved
- Identify options or solutions
- Prioritize and select from options
- Implement
- Monitor/evaluate
Slide 7
Transportation Planning and Delivery Process
Source: The Transportation Planning Briefing Book. Federal Highway Administration. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/publications/briefing_book/fhwahep18015.pdf
Slide 8
Transportation Project Life Cycle
Long-range transportation planning
Develop a vision for transportation investments
Short-range transportation planning
Use capital programming to match priority projects with funds
Project-level planning
Identify project needs, community concerns, and potential solutions
Project-level environmental review
Elaborate review to consider the impact on the environment, guided by regulations
Design, land acquisition, and permitting
Prepare engineering plans, purchase right of way, and obtain permits
Construction, maintenance, and operations
Build it and keep it working
Slide 9
Infrastructure Needs and Challenges
Adequate infrastructure is fundamental to transportation systems.
Slide 10
Current Trends and Challenges
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There are several trends in transportation driving unprecedented change
- Mobility Transformation
- Electrification
- Connectivity
- Autonomy
- Each has challenges for infrastructure
- Climate change, sustainability, and resilience also remain global issues
Slide 11
Key Trend #1: Mobility Transformation
Changes in our travel choices and the way people access and utilize transportation options, goods, and services
Source: Mobility Innovation Outpacing Policy, Report Finds. Sarah Wray, SmartCitiesWorld. https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/news/news/mobility-innovation-outpacing-policy-report-finds-4785
Slide 12
Key Trend #2: Electrification
Electrification is increasingly seen as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector
Slide 13
Key Trend #3: Connectivity
A connected vehicle (CV) has various communication devices (embedded or portable) that enable in-car connectivity with other devices
Source: How C-V2X in 5G Will Transform Cars and Save Lives (Analyst Angle). Keith Mallinson, RCR Wireless News. https://www.rcrwireless.com/20200206/analyst-angle/c-v2x-5g-transform-cars-analyst-angle
Slide 14
Key Trend #4: Autonomy
Automated vehicles (AVs) represent a switching of the responsibility for the driving task from human to machine
Society of Automotive Engineers Levels of Driving Automation
(Adapted from SAEJ3016TM)
Source: SAE International. www.sae.org
Slide 15
Planning for the Future of Transportation
Mobility Transformation
Ensure safe, multimodal, equitable access
Electrification
Provision of charging infrastructure, moving beyond home-based charging
Connectivity
Upgrading roadway infrastructure with digital communications infrastructure
Autonomy
Adapting infrastructure designed for human drivers to handle autonomous vehicles as well as both humans and AVs at the same time
Cross-Cutting Considerations of Climate Change and Resiliency
Slide 16
Future Scenarios and Outlook
Crisis World
Acute events and transportation disasters exacerbate problems due to climate change
Mega World
The gradual and continuous concentration of the population and economic activity into megaregions
Suburban World
Gradual decentralization to small towns, suburbs, and areas outside the megaregions
Wonder World
High economic growth and numerous technology breakthroughs
Green World
Radical shift in favor of a green and sustainable future
Source: NCHRP Report 750: Strategic Issues Facing Transportation, Volume 4: Sustainability as an Organizing Principle for Transportation Agencies. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. https://doi.org/10.17226/22379
Slide 17 [end]
Transportation 101: Introduction to Transportation Infrastructure
