by gokeefe
Recent private discussions with another member of the forums have centered around an intiative that proposes to coordiante mass and micro transit in rural areas. Brunswick, ME is the expected to be the pilot site for the project.
The project seeks to leverage existing infrastructure and geo social networking to coordinate mass and micro transportation solutions in a rural area. Part of the initiative focuses on getting mass transit real time data coordinated with micro transportation options through a single source portal/application. Other parts of the project examine the possibility of creating new micro transit solutions that are leveraged by broad based availability of real time data.
Here are some examples of what's being discussed and why.
1. The Brunswick, ME area is expected to see its first service from the Downeaster next year. The arrival of the train will strengthen intercity transportation links between Brunswick, ME, coastal Maine, New Hampshire and Boston, MA. Boston, MA serves as a regional transportation hub with national and international transportation options.
In support of the arrival of the Downeaster A number of initiatives in Brunswick, ME have been undertaken that have greatly improved local "car free" options in particular the new Brunswick Explorer system and the growing Zip Car fleet based out of Bowdoin College.
2. The surrounding areas of Brunswick are, like much of Maine, lightly populated. Although relative densities are certainly higher than wilderness areas the populations of year round residents are relatively small with large influxes of seasonal residents in the late spring through the late fall.
The residents of these areas are in effect 'captive' to the car-based economy. Short of abandoning their homesteads in these areas, many of whom date back to the original European settlers in that area in the late 1600's, residents are faced with continued escalations in transportation costs with no long term prospects for alleviation in the privately owned market passenger transportation market.
3. Current passenger transportation options are largely car based with some Community Action Programs running services in Maine's mid sized towns and cities. With very few exceptions small towns in Maine have little if any passenger transportation other than privately owned vehicles.
4. Historical transportation patterns to include previously operated ferries, interurban electric traction railroads and other forms of non-road dependent transportation existed in rural areas of Maine but were largely swept away by the advent of mass-produced automobiles and low cost fuel.
Although fuel costs can be highly volatile and difficult to predict there is no expectation at this time that over the long term fuel will return to the generally low cost seen during the 1950's-1970's on an inflation adjusted basis. This long term prognosis and its widely held understanding in the collective consciousness may form the basis for a willingness or an interest in cultural change by members of the public.
5. In some very limited cases so-called "micro transit" options might provide a more efficient solution for specific cases of passengers. Some examples include coordianted car-sharing and ferries from peninsular areas which currently have no other means of passenger conveyance aside from privately owned vehicles.
6. Current technologies specifically GPS based tracking systems, internet based social networking and the ubiquity of relatively inexpensive web capable smart phones may have allowed for the creation of "transit" through the collection, and broadcasting of real time high quality transportation information. Furthermore internet based social networking may have created a means to coordinate previously unknown third parties with a means of transportation.
The topic is being raised here for discussion in an attempt to continue to discuss and formulate the idea on a broad basis and to seek solutions that assist in further integration. Specific technical challenges that have arisen include difficulties in obtaining Amtrak's real time train data on an open source basis.
To be clear the Downeaster is likely at the very heart of how this system will be able to work. It serves as the mass transit backbone for the broader system. While the project certainly isn't expected to see any kind of immediate and broad based adoption it is felt that this project may form the basis for the beginning of the creation of an entirely new means to coordinate transit in areas with lower population densities. In effect lowering the density threshold at which transit solutions can be implemented without the higher capital costs of transit solutions that are typically intended for higher density locations.
The project seeks to leverage existing infrastructure and geo social networking to coordinate mass and micro transportation solutions in a rural area. Part of the initiative focuses on getting mass transit real time data coordinated with micro transportation options through a single source portal/application. Other parts of the project examine the possibility of creating new micro transit solutions that are leveraged by broad based availability of real time data.
Here are some examples of what's being discussed and why.
1. The Brunswick, ME area is expected to see its first service from the Downeaster next year. The arrival of the train will strengthen intercity transportation links between Brunswick, ME, coastal Maine, New Hampshire and Boston, MA. Boston, MA serves as a regional transportation hub with national and international transportation options.
In support of the arrival of the Downeaster A number of initiatives in Brunswick, ME have been undertaken that have greatly improved local "car free" options in particular the new Brunswick Explorer system and the growing Zip Car fleet based out of Bowdoin College.
2. The surrounding areas of Brunswick are, like much of Maine, lightly populated. Although relative densities are certainly higher than wilderness areas the populations of year round residents are relatively small with large influxes of seasonal residents in the late spring through the late fall.
The residents of these areas are in effect 'captive' to the car-based economy. Short of abandoning their homesteads in these areas, many of whom date back to the original European settlers in that area in the late 1600's, residents are faced with continued escalations in transportation costs with no long term prospects for alleviation in the privately owned market passenger transportation market.
3. Current passenger transportation options are largely car based with some Community Action Programs running services in Maine's mid sized towns and cities. With very few exceptions small towns in Maine have little if any passenger transportation other than privately owned vehicles.
4. Historical transportation patterns to include previously operated ferries, interurban electric traction railroads and other forms of non-road dependent transportation existed in rural areas of Maine but were largely swept away by the advent of mass-produced automobiles and low cost fuel.
Although fuel costs can be highly volatile and difficult to predict there is no expectation at this time that over the long term fuel will return to the generally low cost seen during the 1950's-1970's on an inflation adjusted basis. This long term prognosis and its widely held understanding in the collective consciousness may form the basis for a willingness or an interest in cultural change by members of the public.
5. In some very limited cases so-called "micro transit" options might provide a more efficient solution for specific cases of passengers. Some examples include coordianted car-sharing and ferries from peninsular areas which currently have no other means of passenger conveyance aside from privately owned vehicles.
6. Current technologies specifically GPS based tracking systems, internet based social networking and the ubiquity of relatively inexpensive web capable smart phones may have allowed for the creation of "transit" through the collection, and broadcasting of real time high quality transportation information. Furthermore internet based social networking may have created a means to coordinate previously unknown third parties with a means of transportation.
The topic is being raised here for discussion in an attempt to continue to discuss and formulate the idea on a broad basis and to seek solutions that assist in further integration. Specific technical challenges that have arisen include difficulties in obtaining Amtrak's real time train data on an open source basis.
To be clear the Downeaster is likely at the very heart of how this system will be able to work. It serves as the mass transit backbone for the broader system. While the project certainly isn't expected to see any kind of immediate and broad based adoption it is felt that this project may form the basis for the beginning of the creation of an entirely new means to coordinate transit in areas with lower population densities. In effect lowering the density threshold at which transit solutions can be implemented without the higher capital costs of transit solutions that are typically intended for higher density locations.
gokeefe
