Week 1

Introduction

History

Introduction

• Transportation - The movement of good and people between 2 points

• Transportation Engineering - Planning and design of all facilities and operations

Need to know

Psychology Political science

Sociology History

Economics Geography

EnvironmentalScience / Engineering

World Civ

Structural Design Statistics

Operations research

History

Questions

• How does the internet effect travel?

• What would happen to Albany if HSGT (300 mph) was begun between NYC & Albany?

• What are the common threads among the “new” transportation modes through the ages (What are “new” transportation modes)

Transportation Demand

• System serves people’s economic, social, & cultural activities

• derived or indirect demand - people move due to need not desire– The only time you really desire to drive is when

you first get your license (before you start chauffeuring you siblings)

System

• Fixed Facilities

• Flow entity

• Control system– vehicular control– flow control

System Classification

• 3 major classes– ground– air – water

• 5 major modes

Modes

• Highway– car– taxi– truck– bus– bicycle– pedestrian

Modes

• Rail– Passenger– freight

• Air– private– commuter– jets– freighters

Modes

• Water– Inland Waterway– canals– ocean going

• Pipelines– liquids and gases

Modes

• For hire (public)– contract carrier– common carrier (buses and taxis)

• Not For hire (private)

Cost

• Fixed Costs - build it, maintain it, operate it– not related to production or utilization

• Variable Costs - depend on utilization

• Variable cost / fixed cost gives economy of scale (EOS)

• EOS - production increases $/unit decreases, profit increases

EOS

• Exists when FC are high and VC is low

• Which transportation modes have EOS?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Cost

Demand

EOS

FC

Total $

Cost per

EOS

05

10152025303540

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Demand

Cost

Total $

Cost per

FC

Freight

• Motor Carriers– 25.4 % of intercity freight– 72% of revenues

• Railroads– 26% of intercity freight– 5% of revenue

Freight

• Pipelines– 16.3% of intercity freight– 3% of revenue

• Water - Inland and Coastal– 24.4% of intercity freight– 4.1% of revenue

Freight

• Airplanes– 0.1% of intercity freight– 2.3% of revenue

• Parcel , Postal Courier– 0.4% of intercity freight– 9.2% of revenue

Travel

• People look at $, time, schedule, service

• Need to look at total travel time– Is it faster to drive or fly to Washington, DC?– Driving 7:00 390 miles cost: $393.90 rt– Flying 1:15 to Albany, 1:00 wait, 1:20 flying,

1:20 into city Cost: $322 rt

Questions

• What accounts for the difference in the percentage of freight carried and the revenues?

• How will intermodal freight ventures help to increase revenues (profits) for trucks, rail, shipping?