essay transportation in the future

Life in 2050: A Glimpse at Transportation in the Future

By 2050, the ways in which we get from point a to point b will change drastically thanks to automation, machine learning, hyperfast transit, and suborbital spaceflight..

Matthew S. Williams

Ground Works

Welcome back to our “Life in 2050” series! In previous installments, we looked at how accelerating change and environmental issues will affect the future of warfare , economy , education , everyday living , and space exploration (in two installments ). Today, we look at how people will get from A to B by mid-century, whether it’s across town, from one city to the next, or one continent to the next.

Transportation is another sector that is expected to undergo a major revolution in the coming decades. In several respects, this revolution is already underway thanks to the introduction of autonomous vehicles, the wide-scale adoption of electric vehicles, the growth of renewable energy, and the advent of commercial spaceflight.

Between now and 2050, these technologies and trends will accelerate and lead to the creation of new transportation infrastructure, radically different from what we know today. All told, the following factors will contribute to this revolution:

• Urban Sprawl and Clean Energy
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
• Hyperloops and High-speed Trains
• Smart Highways and Transit Systems
• Point-to-Point Suborbital Flights

Old Ways-New Life

Of course, the infrastructure of tomorrow will be built on existing transportation networks. This consists of urban centers with automated traffic control systems, mass-transit networks existing alongside road networks, highway and rail systems connecting major urban centers, and airports providing flights between nations and continents.

The problem with this existing infrastructure includes its dependence on fossil fuels and the fact that it is aging and in disrepair. According to an analysis conducted by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association in 2020, about 231,000 bridges in the US (more than 1/3 rd ) are in need of repair or replacement.

Similarly, a 2017 report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked 137 nations based on their economic competitiveness. As the report indicated, developed nations like France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the US, and the UK all suffered from the problem of degrading infrastructure. In particular, the state of roads and bridges was a major concern. 

However, the growing issue of climate change complicates matters somewhat. Rather than simply repairing their aging infrastructure, developed nations need to make upgrades any to their transportation networks with sustainability in mind. As the old saying goes, “necessity is the mother of invention.”

Public Health Concerns

Aside from the increased demand for food, water, and utilities (like electricity) that this growth in transportation will entail, it will also lead to increased air pollution. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ‘s (OECD) 2012 report — titled “ Environmental Outlook to 2050 ” — greenhouse gas emissions, particulates, and ground-level ozone will increase drastically by 2050.

This could also mean that the number of premature deaths caused by air pollution could double, reaching 3.6 million deaths annually (with most occurring in China and India). These statistics become particularly frightening when considering the younger generations that will experience higher levels of mortality as a result.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1.8 billion children (93%) worldwide breathe toxic air daily, resulting in 600,000 deaths in 2016 alone. This problem will be made worse since much of the urban growth is projected to occur in the developing world. In these places, there is less access to medical care, and power is still largely generated by non-renewable sources.

In short, by 2050, urban air pollution is destined to become the leading environmental cause of mortality — ahead of pandemics, dirty water, and a lack of sanitation and access to medical care. Addressing urban transportation will therefore be a public health matter, as well as part of a global effort to combat Climate Change.

Sprawling Cities

The nature of urban transportation will change drastically, keeping pace with the changing nature of cities themselves. Between 2021 and 2050, urban populations will continue to grow, outpacing rural population growth. This will create a double-edged challenge, as more people living in cities will mean an increased demand for food, housing, education, and basic services.

The expansion of cities will mean less arable land and green spaces for growing food, not to mention further burdens on our dwindling supplies of freshwater. However, there is a flip side to this situation since cities are hubs for innovation and development, which means larger urban populations could well foster new solutions for sustainable living.

According to a 2019 report compiled by the United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs — titled “ World Population Prospects 2019 ” — the global population is expected to reach 9.74 billion by mid-century. That’s about 2 billion more people in just under thirty years. Beyond the number of people, there’s also the question of where they will be living.

Today, roughly 56% of the global population lives in urban centers instead of rural settings, which works out to about 4.4 billion people . According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the global urban population is projected to increase to 6.6 billion by 2050, accounting for roughly 68% of humanity.

Similarly, urban growth will also mean that some cities will be overtaking others to become “megacities.” According to the UNDESA , in 1990, there were just 10 megacities in the world, urban centers with populations of 10 million or more. Today, there are 33 megacities in the world, the largest of which include Osaka (19 million people) and Tokyo (37 million).

By 2030, the number of megacities is projected to reach 43 , most of which will be located in Africa, Asia, and South America. By 2050, the Global City Working Group estimates that there will be 50 megacities, only five of which will be located in Western Europe or North America — New York City, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Paris.

While one in eight people (12.5%) live in the 33 megacities today, the majority of the world’s 4.4 billion urban residents still live in smaller cities with populations of less than 500,000. By 2050, close to one in five (20%) of the 6.6 billion urban residents will live in one of 50 megacities around the world.

Getting around downtown

By 2050, sales of electric vehicles (EVs) will reach 62 million units per year, with a global stock of 700 million EVs . In terms of total sales, EVs will account for 56% of the global market, outpacing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which will account for the remaining 44%. This transition will be accompanied by drastic changes in the nature of infrastructure.

Charging stations will become more common than gas stations by 2050 and will benefit from the growing use of renewable energy and “ smart grid ” technology. By 2050, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) anticipates that 49% of global electricity will come from renewable sources, followed by natural gas (23%), coal (23%), and nuclear (5%).

This will allow charging stations to be built wherever distributed power arrays are located. Biofuel stations will also become a normal feature thanks to the growth of carbon capture operations incorporated into future urban developments . These operations rely on titanium dioxide (TiO²) or biomass (in the case of BECCS ) to chemically “scrub” CO² from the air.

In the case of the former, the captured carbon is then treated with water and an electrocatalyst to create ethanol as a biofuel. Combined with food waste that is processed to create biodiesel, older vehicles will be able to fuel up at gas stations that are considerably more “green.” Carbon that is sequestered using the BECCS method can be used to generate electricity, heat, and more biofuel.

So, for many commuters in 2050, keeping the car charged (or “gassed up”) will be a simple matter of pulling into a charging station located throughout the city or countryside — usually wherever a large solar array or wind farm is set up. Alternatively, biofuel can be purchased by pulling into an urban gas farm where fuels are produced on-site using urban air pollution!

Another fascinating development is the way electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL), short takeoff and landing (STOL), and personal air vehicle (PAV) concepts will become more common. In an age where traffic congestion is a major concern, residents in major cities will be able to summon taxis not just from the street but also from the roof!

Similar to how people summon an Uber, Lyft, or conventional taxi on their smartphone, city-dwellers in the near future will be able to request air taxis from existing roof-mounted helipads or small landing zones around town. It’s also likely that as air taxis become more common, designated “airports” will be built in urban areas.

Some current examples of air taxis and PAVs include aerospace the Boeing NeXT , the Vertical VA-X4 , the EHang Autonomous Aerial Vehicle (AAV), the Jaunt/Carter PAV , the Volocopter VoloCity air taxi , the Lilium Jet , and the Personal Air and Land Vehicle (PAL-V). By 2050, electric flying taxis are likely to become a regular feature of urban living.

From city to city

Mass transit is expected to make a serious comeback due to the growth of cities, socio-economic changes, and demographic shifts — all of which will force major cities to upgrade their infrastructure or face urban decay. In a report titled “ Future of Rail 2050 “, the engineering and consultancy group ARUP anticipated that several “megatrends” would play a role.

These include the potential for increased density, urban sprawl, and a lack of proper services that could lead to the growth of slums and the gap between the rich and the poor. “Currently, about 1 billion people live in slums, and the vast majority of these slums — more than 90% — are located in cities of developing countries,” they state . “By 2050, the slum population could multiply to 3 billion.”

The second trend is the way that population demographics will be shifting. As they note, by 2050, more than 20% of the world’s population is predicted to be 60 years old or over (compared to 11% today). In addition, 50% of the world’s population is anticipated to have achieved “middle class” socioeconomic status, which will also have a major impact on the mobility of urban residents.

Other “megatrends” include climate change and the need to provide services using more sustainable methods, smart technology, and integration, as well as the emergence of new technologies. Of the technologies that are expected to make an appearance in the near future, the Hyperloop is arguably the most auspicious and anticipated and could replace air travel in many areas.

In 2012, the Hyperloop became a hot topic after SpaceX founder Elon Musk shared his idea for a “fifth form of transportation” during a “fireside chat” with Pando . A year later, he published an alpha paper that detailed his proposal for maglev trains (magnetic levitation) in low-pressure steel tubes that took advantage of the low wind resistance to achieve speeds of up to 800 mph (1280 km/h).

Musk also indicated that he was too busy to pursue the project and made the alpha paper available to the public. Since that time, multiple startups and competitions have emerged to develop the technology and make Hyperloop fast transit a reality. These include Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), based in Los Angeles, which was the first private venture to launch (in 2013).

Then there’s Hyperloop Technologies (aka. Hyperloop One) which evolved to become Virgin Hyperloop after being acquired by Richard Branson. Virgin Hyperloop has offices in LA, Las Vegas, and Dubai, with plans to create corridors in each region. On Nov. 8 th , 2020 , the company successfully conducted its first passenger trial using their two-seater Experimental-Pod-2 (XP-2).

There’s also TransPod Inc., a Canadian company dedicated to designing and manufacturing ultra-high-speed tube transportation technology and vehicles with proposals to create corridors connecting Canada’s major cities, with extension to American corridors. Founded in 2016, the Hardt Global Mobility in Delft, the Netherlands, seeks to create corridors crisscrossing the EU.

There’s also DGWHyperloop based in Indore, India, which has partnered with government agencies, companies, and research institutes for the sake of building Hyperloop corridors that would connect India’s major cities. Similar companies have been launched in the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and elsewhere across the globe.

Between 2015 and 2018 , a number of Hyperloop pod competitions were held to help advance the design of podcars. In 2016, when it was still named Hyperloop One, Virgin Hyperloop launched the Hyperloop One Global Challenge to determine where Hyperloop routes should be built. As of 2021, several governments have conducted field and cost assessments on which routes would be feasible.

Between the increased demand for transportation services, the reduced costs (compared to conventional high-speed rail), and the improved speed and efficiency Hyperloop systems can offer, it’s highly plausible that corridors will be established on several continents by 2050, with more to follow by 2100. Some examples could include:

Chicago-to-Cleveland Corridor: Also known as the “ Great Lakes Corridor ,” this system is so-named because of the way it would connect several of the largest cities that make up the Great Lakes Megalopolis . Possible extension to Detroit and Pittsburg, and Windsor to Toronto (see below), would connect over 85 million people with a single network.

Delhi-Mumbai Corridor: Located in northern India, this north-south corridor will connect two of India’s largest cities and economies. The Delhi-Mumbai system will be able to transport passengers and freight across this 870 mi (1400 km) corridor in just 3 hours to 62 minutes (the current rail network takes between 15 and 21 hours).

Moscow-St.Petersberg Corridor: This system will connect Russia’s two largest cities and economic/administrative centers. Measuring 435 mi (700 km) in length, this stretch usually takes about 8 hours by train but could be traversed by Hyperloop in less than one hour.

New York-Washington D.C.: This north-south route would merge the largest economic hub in the world (New York City) with the US Capitol, not to mention the entire metropolitan axis that connects them (with Phillidelphia and Baltimore in between). It has also been speculated that a connection to Boston would complete a corridor for the Northeastern Megalopolis (aka. “BosWash”).

This corridor measures 440 mi (708 km) along the Eastern Seaboard, connects over 52 million people, and typically takes a minimum of 7 hours by train. A Hyperloop system, however, could do it in (again) about an hour. A connection from Phillidelphia to Pittsburg would also allow for this north-south corridor to be joined with an east-west one running all the way to Chicago.

Toronto-Windsor Corridor: Located in southern Ontario, this east-west route is the busiest traffic conduit in all of Canada. The addition of a Hyperloop system to this corridor would not only mean extensive economic benefits. It would also alleviate traffic congestion and lead to an all-around reduction in air pollution.

An extension to Ottawa would mean a direct route between the US border, Canada’s largest economic region, and the nation’s capital. This more than 465 mile-long (750 km) stretch typically takes over 21 hours by existing rail systems but could be traversed in just an hour with a Hyperloop.

Similarly, proposals have been made for a Toronto-Montreal Corridor , which would connect two of Canada’s two largest economic centers. Combined with the Toronto-Windsor Corridor, this roughly 600 mi (950 km) route could be crossed in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Possible extensions to Ottawa and Quebec city would link the most populous and heavily industrialized region of Canada.

Seoul-Busan Corridor: This proposed Hyperloop route  would connect Korea’s two largest urban areas and most important economic centers. The route measures less than 250 mi (400 km) but would connect over 36 million people (~70% of South Korea’s population) and is one of the most economically vital routes in the world.

With a Hyperloop, this route could see passengers and freight moving from the capital of South Korea (and one of the largest economic hubs in Asia) and one of the largest port facilities in the world.

Smart driving, smart traffic

In the near future, commuters will benefit from smart highways, smart traffic control systems, and transportation networks that are optimized with machine learning and AI-driven analytics. Today, many cities already have Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and that trend is anticipated to grow as more cities use “smart” technology to become more efficient.

These systems rely on sensors, cameras, cellular routers, and automation systems to monitor and direct traffic to reduce congestion. Within city limits and residential areas, these systems also coordinate traffic lights, pedestrian crossing zones, school zone signs, alert drivers of speed limits, and issue tickets to violators.

When paired with self-driving cars, these highway systems will also coordinate autonomous vehicles (which will be much more common) in order to reduce accidents and ensure commuters abide by safety regulations. This will eliminate the need for “speed traps” and for police and civil authorities to enforce traffic laws, freeing them up for more serious tasks.

The task of overseeing all this will fall to centralized processors that rely on machine learning to analyze traffic patterns and find ways to optimize the local network. This will significantly reduce the workload for transit authorities, reduce the associated costs of mass-transit systems, and dramatically improve efficiency.

Another traffic-saving measure could come in the form of underground tunnels that allow for automated freight transport. A perfect example is the Cargo Sous-Terrain system that is currently under construction in Switzerland. This $3.4 billion project will utilize a series of underground tunnels and automated delivery vehicles to eliminate freight trucks from highways.

Other countries are looking to realize their own underground freight transportation (UFT) networks using automated vehicles and freight delivery. In the US, there’s the Boring Company that SpaceX founder Elon Musk launched in 2016 to create tunnel networks beneath major cities for automated cars, freight vehicles, and Hyperloop trains.

In Germany, there are plans to build an automated freight transportation system known as the CargoCap . This system, developed by researchers at the Ruhr-University of Bochum and the government of North Rhine-Westphalia, would utilize individual, intelligent vehicles (aka. Caps) to transport freight in congested urban areas.

Similar networks have been proposed for major cities in the US, the European Union, and China. By 2050, every megacity in the world is likely to have an underground option for driving, rapid transit, and automated freight delivery.

To the Kármán Line and beyond!

Among the many options for rapid transit that will be available by 2050, suborbital spaceflight is arguably the most ambitious. Alongside Hyperloop corridors that allow passengers to travel from one end of the country to the other in a few hours, commercial launch services that provide intercontinental flights in the same amount of time will make planes all but obsolete.

At present, there are three major commercial space companies that have shared their plans to offer flights using their launch vehicles. These include SpaceX, which hopes to provide point-to-point suborbital flights using the Starship . This would consist of their spacecraft taking off and landing at offshore facilities, allowing for flights anywhere in the world in “ 30 minutes or less .”

For years, Richard Branson (founder and CEO of Virgin Galactic) has pursued a vision of realizing “space tourism” through suborbital spaceflights. This will consist of the passengers flying aboard a SpaceShipTwo above the Kármán Line — an altitude of 62 mi (100 km), the boundary where space begins.

However, Branson has indicated that the SpaceShipTwo fleet will be used to provide point-to-point transportation services between major cities in the future. Blue Origin has also expressed interest in expanding its suborbital launch services by adding more spaceports, which could also accommodate flights between cities.

The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) also has plans for a commercial spacecraft that could deliver suborbital point-to-point transportation services. The proposal was the subject of a video (titled “ One Hour Global Arrival in the Space Transportation System “) which CALT presented at the 6th Aerospace Industry Achievement Exhibition back in April.

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is also working on the SpaceLiner , a hypersonic suborbital spaceplane that could accommodate intercontinental flights. According to DLR statements, the SpaceLiner could transport 50 people from Australia to Europe in 90 minutes or 100 passengers from Europe to California in 60 minutes.

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As always, the main forces driving change between today and 2050 will be climatological and technological in nature. In terms of transportation, this will mean that existing infrastructure will need to be upgraded (and/or repaired) so it can accommodate more people while simultaneously reducing stress on the environment.

The solution to this problem, which is already being implemented around the world, involves adopting renewable energy, sustainable development strategies, machine learning and optimization, and some out-of-the-box thinking.

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ABOUT THE EDITOR

Matthew S. Williams Matthew S Williams is an author, a writer for Universe Today, and the curator of their Guide to Space section. His works include sci-fi/mystery The Cronian Incident and his articles have been featured in Phys.org, HeroX, Popular Mechanics, Business Insider, Gizmodo, and IO9, ScienceAlert, Knowridge Science Report, and Real Clear Science, with topics ranging from astronomy and Earth sciences to technological innovation and environmental issues. He is also a former educator and a 5th degree Black Belt Tae Kwon Do instructor. He lives on Vancouver Island with his wife and family.  

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Advanced transport systems: the future is sustainable and technology-enabled

• Yue Cao 1 ,
• Sybil Derrible 2 ,
• Michela Le Pira 3 &
• Haiping Du 4  

Scientific Reports volume  14 , Article number:  9429 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Transport has always played a major role in shaping society. By enabling or restricting the movement of people and goods, the presence or absence of transport services and infrastructure has historically been determining for cultures to connect, for knowledge to be shared, and for societies to evolve and prosper, or, in contrast, for societies to decay and fail. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, transport has been going through a revolution worldwide. One of the primary goals for the transport sector is clear: it needs to be decarbonized and become more sustainable. At the same time, technological advances are shaping the transport sector toward smart services and societies. The Special Collection showcases some of the latest advances in research towards sustainable and technology-enabled transport.

Introduction

The transport sector is fundamental to promoting human development and economic growth. Yet, it is also one of the most impacting and energy-consuming sectors, accounting for a quarter of global energy-related CO 2 emissions 1 . This is largely because oil products still made up more than 90% of the energy used in transport by 2022 2 , 3 . The transport sector is also responsible for many other externalities, from social exclusion to crashes, and it is one of the most cost-intensive sectors in terms of public administration 4 .

Right now, the urgency to decarbonize and make transport more sustainable is clear. This is apparent from the articles published in the Special Collection. On purpose, we (the editors) had kept the call for the Special Collection broad by naming it “Advanced Transportation Systems”, but many submissions directly address the need for the transport sector to reduce its carbon footprint, whether by tackling traffic congestion, by making way for electric vehicles, or by promoting alternative travel modes. The first theme that emerged from the Special Collection is therefore sustainability.

The second theme that emerged from the collection is technology. Most submissions either study a technology or use advanced data science techniques to answer their research questions. This emphasis on technology was expected. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ubiquitous sensing and computing have pervaded virtually every domain, including transport, towards Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). From technology-enabled crowdsourced transit service to autonomous vehicles and freight delivery, the collection sees much promise in technology.

This editorial synthesizes the key topics and findings of the Special Collection “Advanced Transportation Systems” along the two themes found, and it lays the path for future research in transport.

Advances toward technology-enabled transport

The application of AI in transport has been growing significantly. As of this writing, typical use cases include autonomous vehicles, drones delivering packages, and sophisticated systems managing complex logistics delivery networks 1 . One report 5 projected that global AI in the transport market reached $3.5 billion by 2023, an impressive growth rate of 16.5%.

For example, as a fundamental component of autonomous driving systems, environmental perception 6 enables vehicles to comprehend their surroundings and make intelligent decisions based on this perception. Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) make wise decisions about speed, direction, and safety by recognizing pedestrians, other vehicles, and traffic signs. This capability is crucial for ensuring safe and efficient road navigation 7 . As another killer application, the usage of drones rapidly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, the Alphabet-owned drone delivery company Wing saw demand for its services double, thanks to the drones bringing contactless ways to access consumer goods 8 .

Digital-twin, federated learning, reinforcement learning, and machine learning have been widely applied in the literature and in this Special Collection, ranging from passenger demand forecasting and the prediction of electricity consumption using traffic volume data 9 to the optimization of traffic signal controls and the evaluation of the pedestrian level of service 10 , 11 , 12 . The debate around the potential of big data analytics is lively, and how/if they will replace traditional transport modelling techniques 13 .

ITS is a holistic system employed in transport management, including information, communication, sensing, electronic control, AI, and computer technologies. ITS provides comprehensive, real-time, accurate, efficient transport and management capabilities to service citizens and operate the city efficiently, such as traffic control, disaster management, and driver monitoring. With the help of ICT and the continuous development of ITS, smart parking has also been upgraded. Compared with traditional parking, smart parking alleviates users from finding available parking spots by notifying users of available spots in advance. Emerging ICT has been integrated with smart parking services, such as using RFID or magnetic sensors to monitor the utilization of parking space, or developing middleware for urban level parking management 14 .

Advances toward sustainable transport

Decarbonization of the transport sector is an important pathway to climate-change mitigation and presents the potential for future lower emissions. Electric vehicles (EVs) are regarded as a promising solution to achieve intelligent and green transport. With energy cost decreasing and user experience improving continuously, EVs are gaining significant market share. Considering the numerous advantages of EVs, many governments and large organizations are actively engaged in the process of promoting EV industry development 15 . Driven by these factors, over 6.8 million EVs were sold worldwide in 2021, despite supply chain bottlenecks and the then ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the analysis from Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, the number of EVs will reach over 300 million in 2030 and 60% of new car sales will be EVs.

Along with this, there has been substantial research on decarbonization of transport system, such as the work in 16 , 17 , 18 on reduction of vehicle emission, investigating the relationship between electricity consumed at building with travel demand and assessing the impact of on-demand public transit systems considering EVs. Of course, due to the existing drive-by-wire design and in-vehicle system, EVs have more advantages on autonomous technology implementation. Therefore, the application of autonomous EVs is progressively supplanting traditional ICE-based AVs.

Among transport externalities, safety represents one of the big concerns of modern societies. According to the statistic from World Health Organization (WHO) 19 , road traffic crashes result in the deaths of approximately 1.19 million people around the world each year and leave between 20 and 50 million people with non-fatal injuries. More than half of all road traffic deaths occur among vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. This stems from multiple factors, including scarce road maintenance, pointing to the need to plan an ad-hoc planning and scheduling of interventions minimizing road congestion and discomfort 20 . Here, enabling an advanced transportation system is able to alleviate the number and severity of traffic crashes through emerging technologies such as traffic control and traffic operations, crash data collection and analyses, safety information and communication systems and safety policy and planning 12 . Yet, identifying and defining appropriate techniques to study safety remains challenging 21 .

The future of transport research

In the near future, we can see that the two themes present in the Special Collection (i.e.., sustainability and technology) will remain predominant. The threats of climate change are ever present, and they are not expected to lessen. Research efforts will likely continue to study how the transport sector can be decarbonized, notably leveraging technology. EVs and alternative low-carbon transport modes offer some of the best solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of the transport sector 22 . We therefore expect many more research studies to come out that will study the impact of electrifying vehicles both on the transport and the electricity sectors. Besides, due the increasing concerning on cyber-attacks on road infrastructures and automobile, resilience in transport remains a critical topic as well, both on the physical asset such as road resilience as well as cyber-resilience which will likely get more attention as connected and autonomous vehicles become more popular.

Finally, issues related to inequity and social and environmental justice in transport will likely get more attention as they have in other domains. Sustainability issues can be tackled by leveraging on new flexible transport services, which are undoubtedly enabled by technology. The idea to have integrated and multimodal transport systems, accessible by users on-demand and according to their heterogeneous preferences is something that has driven research—more at a theoretical level than a practical one—toward the concept of Mobility as a Service (MaaS). Despite many uncertainties, considering the role that transport plays in society, what is certain is that much more research is needed, making transport research a rich, multidisciplinary and constantly evolving field.

Jaramillo et al. Transport, IPCC WG III, Sixth Assessment Report (2022).

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Table of contents

Three concepts driving the future of transportation

Autonomous aerial vehicles (aavs), self-driving taxis, the hyperloop, the costs of transportation and motivation for change, what will happen to today’s transportation, take a look at the future of transportation where sustainable and autonomous technology rule..

Since early times, humans have sought ways to make traveling faster and more convenient. First, we invented the wheel, then carts and wagons, steam power, and the internal combustion engine. The innovation continued with electric cars, bikes and autonomous vehicles . Ideas that seemed to belong only to the realm of science fiction are being made a reality. Read on to find out what’s coming next in the exciting future of transportation.

The future of transportation involves moving into new, smarter sources of energy, modes of transport and physical and technological infrastructure to support these transportation innovations.

Three common themes in transportation innovation are:

• smart technology
• electrification

Given the rapid expansion of these technologies in recent years, we can assume all will be major contributors to our transportation future.

See also : Electric trucks: the next generation of logistic solutions

New transportation innovations

Here is a preview of what’s coming in the world of transportation.

Will public transportation take to the skies? This could soon be a reality. Successful demonstration flights of Autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) have been carried out already. Although similar to drones, which are generally unmanned, AAVs are different. AAVs are essentially autonomous human-carrying drones, designed for transporting passengers.

Most configurations of these flying vehicles use Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) through horizontal rotors, which require no runway. The idea is to put commuters into AAVs, taking them off congested roadways and to their destinations on direct routes, greatly cutting travel times.

The Ehang 184 is a concept for 5G-connected urban air mobility, controlled through a smart city command center, and is set to be a world’s first Air Taxi to debut in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

This concept is comparable to an AAV, in that it uses a VTOL platform. However, instead of being unmanned, a human operator rides and controls the hoverbike. The form factor resembles a common motorbike with four rotors (quadcopter) capable of carrying one person. Again, the aim is to provide a method of mobility that alleviates street traffic for short distance travel. Hoversurf, a Russian company, has developed the S3 2019 Hoverbike, a battery-powered, one piece carbon fiber frame, capable of flying 96 KMph at 33 feet of altitude. At a cost of $150,000 per bike, the hoverbike won’t be an option for daily commuters any time soon.

Autonomous cars are on the cusp of widespread deployment, although largely still constrained to testing environments and pilot projects. They are on roads today and are active in cities like Las Vegas, where Lyft offers autonomous rides for a fare, in their fleet of 30 ‘Aptiv’ vehicles . These vehicles represent more than just EV and autonomous efficiencies, but rather a Smart Mobility mentality. Using ICT these futuristic taxis communicate with each other, with smart infrastructure and IoT, with customers and gather mass amounts of data to drive further efficiencies while they move around Smart Cities.

The idea of the Hyperloop was first envisioned by Elon Musk in 2012. This future mode of transportation is designed for longer haul transportation between cities, countries or even continents.

The principle of the Hyperloop is based on the movement of people in capsules or pods that travel and high speeds though tubes over long distances. Inside the tubes is a low pressure environment void of air, while the pods use magnetic levitation (MagLev) technology for propulsion. The low pressure and MagLev, create a very low friction environment allowing the pods to travel upwards of 600 MPH.

Virgin Hyperloop One currently has a 500 meter test track in Apex, Nevada, called the DevLoop. Hyperloop projects are now being considered in India, the US, the UK, Canada, and Mexico.

Other examples include differing version of autonomous MagLev trains suspended above city streets; cable cars far above urban skylines; hybrid cars with wings; electric bikes, skateboards and other personal mobility devices; autonomous busses; even Falcon 9 Rockets to leverage the speed of space flight to get people around the globe quickly. Many of these are far into development and even wider implementation.

The human population of Earth is growing and moving into urban areas exponentially. Travel on roadways designed 20, 50 or even over 100 years ago cannot sustain the demand for modern mobility needs. The result is traffic congestion on our roadways.

Traffic inefficiencies cost the global economy hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Road, air, rail and marine transportation do not always operate as a seamless integrated network, contributing to further cost and delay.

Coupled with the current reliance on fossil fuels, transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, comprising 28.9% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2017 , according to the EPA. Greenhouse gases are a cause of climate change and pose a risk to human health and safety. The World Health Organization (WHO) has found that ambient air pollution resulting from vehicles, in addition to other sources, causes millions of premature deaths and disease around the world.

Geotab GmbH is collaborating with Center Smart Services on the RWTH Aachen Campus in Germany to investigate air quality in Aachen. The Mobile AirQuality Measurement project aims to gather hyper-local air quality to support the optimization of traffic planning and management .

It is widely believed that the individual ownership of cars globally will decrease significantly over the coming decades. Currently, the U.S. has the highest concentration of cars per capita worldwide, with just over 800 cars per 1,000 people in 2014, higher than Canada, Europe and the Pacific. The European Union figure as of 2017 is 602 per 1,000 inhabitants .

In Canada, a 2019 study by automotive data company Canadian Black Book reveals that 35% of Canadians aged 18-34 plan to reduce their household fleet over the next two years, and 41% of that same age group plan to do so in the next 10 years.

Get ready for the mobility revolution

New mobility services and the high cost of vehicle ownership are persuading commuters to look to alternative options. Ridesharing , though companies such as Uber, Lyft, Car2Go, Zipcar, and others is growing rapidly. In the same Canadian Black Book study, 27% of Canadians 18-34 rely on these types of mobility services already.

Many auto manufacturers are racing to accommodate the coming industry revolution — integrating EVs in their lineups and investing in mobility research and development.

Transportation author and speaker Lukas Neckermann states that a “ mobility revolution ” is coming for the automobile industry which is defined by the three zeros: zero emissions, zero accidents and zero ownership. Neckermann says, “ The most powerful tool for mobility is your smartphone .”

A transportation revolution has begun. Big data, IoT and zero emission technologies provide hope for cleaner and more efficient methods of transportation. Cars will still be on our roads, however the energy that powers them and the way in which they are bought, leased or rented and operated will certainly change. The above examples are just some of the innovations on the horizon for the future of human transportation.

For more information on Geotab’s intelligence datasets and urban analytics for cities, read our white paper: Data-Driven Smart City Insights .

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Four visions for the future of public transport

Professor in Transport Strategy, Loughborough University

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Marcus Enoch was employed part-time as a Strategy Director for the duration of the PT2045 project by the New Zealand Ministry of Transport, and this article draws on data and insights gathered and derived during that period.

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The way people get around is starting to change, and as a professor of transport strategy I do rather wonder if the modes of transport we use today will still be around by the turn of the next century.

Growing up, my favourite book was a children’s encyclopaedia first published in 1953. One double page spread featured an annotated cityscape, showing all aspects of the built environment – most of which we would still be familiar with now. The various modes of transport illustrated – trains, buses, lorries, taxis, motorcycles, bikes, pedestrians and private cars – still work together as a system in fundamentally the same ways.

But a whole range of possible (though not inevitable) societal and technological changes could revolutionise how we travel in the coming decades. These include large-scale responses to the climate change agenda and energy sourcing and security ; shifting demographic trends (such as growing numbers of elderly people); the development of the collaborative economy ; the growing use of big data ; and the apparent inevitability of driverless cars .

To examine what future urban transport systems might look like, I recently directed a future-gazing project for New Zealand’s Ministry of Transport exploring how people might be travelling in the year 2045. I helped develop four scenarios, along two axes of change.

The first axis considered automation – at one end, vehicles are still be driven much like today (partial automation). At the other, they’re driverless (full automation). The second axis related to how dense cities could become – one future where the population is more dispersed (like Los Angeles) and another where it is concentrated at a higher density (more like Hong Kong). With these axes in mind, I generated four possible futures for public transport, which could play out in cities across the world.

1. Shared shuttles

In the “shared shuttle” city, demand responsive minibuses, Uber-style taxis and micro-modes – such as shared bicycles, electric bikes and hoverboards – to cover the “last mile” to your destination are widespread. Hiring these different forms of transport is simple, thanks to seamless booking and payment systems and a thriving entrepreneurial spirit among a range of commercial, social and government transport providers. Meanwhile, new environmental regulations mean that owning a car is more expensive than it used to be, and private vehicles are restricted to the suburbs.

Flexibility is a core feature of this scenario, with vehicles and services that adjust to the needs of individuals, and with how the space continually adapts to meet the needs of the city as a whole. There’s also a collaborative ethos, reinforced by the development of a more compact and high-density city, while progress toward full automation has been slow because of safety and privacy concerns.

2. Mobility market

Private cars still dominate urban transport in the mobility market scenario. Many citizens live and often work in dispersed, low-density suburban areas, since city-centre housing became too expensive for most to afford. Fewer people walk and cycle, because of the long distances involved. And the use of public transport has declined, since less dense transport networks mean there are fewer viable routes, though a limited network of automated trains and buses is still used for trips to the city centre.

Car use has fallen somewhat since the 2010s, because “active management” measures – such as pre-bookable fast lanes and tolls – are now necessary to control congestion, despite the completion of a sizeable road building programme in the recent past.

Instead, commercially provided pre-paid personalised “mobility packages” are helping to stimulate the use of a whole range of shared mobility options, such as car-pooling, bike hire and air taxi schemes. These now account for around a quarter of all journeys.

3. Connected corridors

Society in this high-tech, highly urbanised world of connected corridors is characterised by perceptive but obedient citizens who trade access to their personal data in return for being able to use an extremely efficient transport system. Physically switching between different services or even different modes of travel is hassle free, thanks to well designed interchange points, and fully integrated timetabling, ticketing and information systems.

For instance, travellers might walk, e-cycle or take a demand-responsive minibus to a main route interchange, then board a high frequency rail service to get across town and finally take a shared autonomous taxi to their destination. Each will be guided by a personalised, all-knowing “travel ambassador” app on their smartphone or embedded chip, which will minimise overall travel times or maybe maximise sightseeing opportunities, according to their preferences.

Private cars are not really needed. People trust technology to deliver inexpensive and secure transport services and appreciate living close to work, family and friends.

4. Plentiful pods

In this future, fleets of variously-sized driverless pods now provide around three-quarters of those journeys that still need to be taken across the low-density, high-tech city. These pods having largely replaced most existing public transport services, and the vast majority of privately-owned cars.

People do still walk or cycle for some shorter trips. But pods are so convenient, providing affordable point-to-point journeys for those not satisfied by virtual interactions. Passengers can pay even less, if they agree to share with others. Pods are also fully connected to the internet, and are priced and tailored to meet customer needs. Ultimately, pods give people the freedom to work, learn or live where the weather is best or the houses are cheapest.

My research did not pass judgement as to which scenario should be pursued. But it did conclude that public transport will need to evolve to meet future challenges, and that the role of government will still be of key importance going forward, no matter which path is chosen. Personally though, if forced to choose, I think I’d favour a shared shuttle future more than the others - it just seems more sociable.

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3 Questions: The future of transportation systems

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Daniel Sperling is a distinguished professor of civil engineering and environmental science and policy at the University of California at Davis, where he is also founding director of the school’s Institute of Transportation Studies. Sperling, a member of the California Air Resources Board, recently gave a talk at MITEI detailing major technological and societal developments that have the potential to change transportation for the better — or worse. Following the event, Sperling spoke to MITEI about policy, science, and how to harness these change agents for the public good.

(Sperling's talk is also available as a podcast .)

Q:  What are the downsides of the “car-centric monoculture,” as you put it, that we find ourselves living in?

A:  Cars provide great value, which is why they are so popular. But too much of a good thing can be destructive. We’ve gone too far. We’ve created a transportation system made up of massive road systems and parking infrastructure that is incredibly expensive for travelers and for society to build and maintain. It is also very energy- and carbon-intensive, and disadvantages those unable to buy and drive cars.

Q:  Can you tell me about the three transportation revolutions that you say are going to transform mobility over the next few decades?

A:  The three revolutions are electrification, automation, and pooling. Electrification is already under way, with increasing numbers of pure battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles that combine batteries and combustion engines, and fuel cell electric vehicles that run on hydrogen. I currently own a hydrogen car (Toyota Mirai) and have owned two different battery electric cars (Nissan Leaf and Tesla).

A second revolution, automation, is not yet under way, at least in the form of driverless cars. But it is poised to be truly transformational and disruptive for many industries — including automakers, rental cars, infrastructure providers, and transit operators. While partially automated cars are already here, true transformations await fully driverless vehicles, which are not likely to exist in significant numbers for a decade or more.

Perhaps the most pivotal revolution, at least in terms of assuring that the automation revolution serves the public interest, is pooling, or sharing. Automation without pooling would lead to large increases in vehicle use. With pooling, though, automation would lead to reductions in vehicle use, but increases in mobility (passenger miles traveled) by mobility-disadvantaged travelers who are too poor or disabled to drive.

Q:  You’ve mentioned that how these revolutions play out depends on which cost factor dominates — money or time. The result would either be heaven or hell for our environment and cities. Explain the nuances of that situation.

A:  With pooled, automated and electric cars, the cost of travel would drop precipitously as a result of using cars intensively — spreading costs over 100,000 miles or more per year — having no driver costs, and having multiple riders share the cost. The monetary cost could be as little as 15 cents per mile, versus 60 cents per mile for an individually-owned automated car traveling 15,000 miles per year. The time cost of car occupants, on the other hand, is near zero because they don’t need to pay attention to driving. They can work, sleep, text, drink, and read. Thus, even if the cost of owning and operating the vehicle is substantial, the time savings would be so beneficial that many, perhaps most, would choose car ownership over subscribing to an on-demand service. In fact, most people in affluent countries would likely choose the huge time savings, worth $10, $20, or more per hour, over low travel costs. Thus, policy will be needed to assure that the public interest — environmental externalities, urban livability, access by the mobility disadvantaged — is favored over the gains of a minority of individuals.

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Electric Vehicles: The Future Transport

• 01 Nov 2021
• GS Paper - 3
• Technology Missions
• Scientific Innovations & Discoveries
• Infrastructure
• Indigenization of Technology
• Growth & Development

This editorial is based on the article Is India ready for a world where electric vehicles will dominate transportation? which was published in The Indian Express on 30/10/2021. It talks about the challenges associated with the promotion of electric vehicles and ways to increase their penetration in the market.

India has the dubious distinction of having nine of the 10 most polluted cities in the world. These nine cities, all in north India, include Greater Noida, Noida, Lucknow, and Delhi. While many factors contribute to the polluted air, skies and human lungs of northern India, vehicular pollution bears substantial responsibility.

So, it is unsurprising that the Indian State is slowly but steadily encouraging electric vehicles. And with this, we may be coming a full circle in terms of our ability to commute. While in the 1900s, the electric vehicle (EV) lost out to fuel-based ones, that may not be the case anymore.

In 1886, Carl Benz, a German engineer applied for and was granted patent number 37435 for his “vehicle powered by a gas engine”. In a few months, the commercial production of the Benz motor car started. This is by most accounts the beginning of commercially-produced vehicles using gas engines.

Interestingly, in 1880, a few years prior to Benz’s patent, William Morrison, a chemist from Iowa, United States, helped bring to life, a six-seater electric vehicle. By 1900, electric cars accounted for over one-third of the vehicles sold in the US. The forward march of electric cars was stopped by the mass production of the very reasonably priced Ford automobile.A reasonably priced car along with the cheap prices of gasoline in the early 1900s meant that the world as we now live in came to be, with fossil fuel-dependent vehicles — cars and bikes — thronging our streets.

In this context, India must prepare itself with better charging infrastructure, battery-making factories and smart incentives for car companies and consumers to go electric

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

• An EV operates on an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine and has a battery instead of a fuel tank.
• In general, EVs have low running costs as they have fewer moving parts and are also environmentally friendly.
• In India, the fuel cost for an EV is approximately 80 paisa per kilometre. Contrast this with the cost of petrol which is today more than Rs 100 per litre in Indian cities, or Rs 7-8 per kilometre to operate a petrol-based vehicle.

Prospects in India

• The private sector has appreciated the inevitability of the dominance of the EV.
• Companies like Amazon, Swiggy, Zomato and Ikea are deploying EVs for deliveries.
• Car manufacturers like Mahindra are partnering with consumers like Ola, while Tata Motors is partnering with Blu Smart Mobility in moves that will ensure more EV delivery and ride-hailing services. 

Associated Challenges

• EVs are typically powered by lithium-based batteries . These batteries need to be charged usually every 200-250 kilometres or so for a car. So, there is a need for a dense proliferation of charging points.
• This is woefully inadequate in a country as large and densely populated as ours.
• Lack of a Stable Policy For EV Production : EV production is a capital intensive sector requiring long term planning to break even and profit realization, uncertainty in government policies related to EV production discourages investment in the industry.
• Technological Challenges: India is technologically deficient in the production of electronics that form the backbone of the EV industry, such as batteries, semiconductors, controllers, etc.
• Lack of Associated Infrastructural Support : The lack of clarity over AC versus DC charging stations, grid stability and range anxiety (fear that batteries will soon run out of power) are other factors that hinder the growth of the EV industry.
• Lack of Availability of Materials For Domestic Production : Battery is single most important component of EVs. India does not have any known reserves of lithium and cobalt which are required for battery production. India is dependent on countries like Japan and China for the import of lithium-ion batteries.
• Lack of skilled workers: EVs have higher servicing costs and higher levels of skills is needed for servicing. India lacks dedicated training courses for such skill development.

Way Forward

• Since investment in local research and development is necessary to bring prices down, it makes sense to leverage local universities and existing industrial hubs.
• India should work with countries like the UK and synergise EV development.
• Sensitising Public : Breaking away the old norms and establishing a new consumer behaviour is always a challenge. Thus, a lot of sensitisation and education is needed, in order to bust several myths and promote EVs within the Indian market.
• Thus, a shift in the electricity generation landscape as a whole is what is required to facilitate the growth of electric cars.
• In this context, India is on track to become one of the largest solar and energy storage markets by 2025.
• A combination of solar-powered grid solutions that are organised with a general improvement in grid resilience will ensure adequate charging infrastructure for EV’s being a green option.
• Along with charging infrastructure, the establishment of a robust supply chain will also be needed.
• Further, recycling stations for batteries will need to recover the metals from batteries used in electrification to create the closed-loop required for the shift to electric cars to be an environmentally-sound decision.
• India must plan for its place in this order — with better-charging infrastructure, battery-making factories and smart incentives for car companies and consumers to go electric.

151 Transportation Essay Topics & Writing Tips

Have you ever thought about the importance of transportation? Every day we see cars, trucks, planes, and ships and never wonder what exactly they are doing. In fact, these vehicles not only transport people from one place to another. They also form a vast system that plays a vital role in any country.  

This is what transportation essays are devoted to. This article by Custom-Writing.org team will help you with writing your paper. Here, you will find:

• a list of 151 excellent topics;
• a step-by-step writing guide;
• a public transportation essay sample.
• 🔄 Before You Start
• ✈️ Transportation Topics
• ✍️ Outline & Guide
• 📑 Essay Sample

🔗 References

🔄 essays on transportation: before you start.

First of all, we want to explain the two essential things you should consider before writing an essay. These are narrowing down the scope and planning .

STEP#1: Narrow down the scope.

Needless to say, transportation is a field that offers hundreds of issues to consider. You can start by determining what aspects of transportation interest you the most and using them as a starting point for your essay.

STEP#2: Plan your paper.

After you’ve collected plenty of material for the essay, the next step is to think what specific points you want to highlight and what particular sources will be necessary. An effective way to do it is to make note cards while researching your topic:

• On every note card, write down the point that you want to include in your paper.
• Look through your cards and choose ideas that will finally make up your transportation essay.

✈️ Transportation Essay Topics

Now you’re ready to choose a perfect topic. Below you’ll find various exciting ideas that you’ll enjoy writing about.

Transportation Essay Topics: Top 10

• Public transport in rural areas.
• Road transport’s economy.
• The future of public transport.
• How to start a car
• Gender inequality in driving
• Family cars: pros and cons
• American vs. British driving
• Peculiarities of building bridges
• My first driving experience
• Preventing road accidents.

Topics for an Essay on Transportation in the Past and Present

Transport plays an integral part in human  history . Its development facilitated the expansion of territories and allowed different nations to collaborate. Explore these fascinating transportation topics in your essay: 

• Importance of mobility: then and now. The role of transport has changed dramatically over time. Are you interested in studying differences in vehicle use between the past and present? This topic is for you.
• Transportation modes before and after the Industrial Revolution .   Choose several vehicles from the past. Then, compare them to some modern ones. Which of the old transportation modes have survived to this day? 
• Animal-powered transport: past to present.  With this topic, consider the earliest methods of transit. You can focus on horses, camels, or llamas. It’s also interesting to look into the current use of animals for transportation. 
• How did transport influence expansion? Assess the role of vehicles during the Age of Exploration. How did they facilitate competition between countries? 
• National Road: connecting the US through the first highway. The National Road was vital for America’s expansion. Write about its past and present impact in your essay.  
• From the Appian Way to the Silk Road.  Compare these two historic roads. Which of their features caused trade to boost? Can we trace present-day trade globalization to them?  
• Interstate Highway System and its legacy. The Interstate Highway System is a perfect transportation topic. Your essay might address its role in the US transit development. How does it connect America’s past with its present?
• Challenges of transport in the past and present. Comparing past issues to the present ones can provide you with a perspective. This topic requires thorough historical analysis. For instance, you may focus on infrastructure development vs. environmental concerns. 
• From horse-drawn carriages to gasoline cars.  The invention of the first automobiles is an exciting essay idea. Describe the significance of this innovation. How did it influence people’s lives? 
• Air travel: a revolution in the transportation industry. This exciting topic will take you on a journey through history. Describe the invention of a plane starting with the earliest attempts. What makes it a crucial step in global development? 
• Transport in the military. Vehicles help to accomplish critical tasks in the army. In your essay, explore inventions introduced during wartime. For example, you may examine the role of zeppelins and U-boats in WWI or bombers in WWII . 
• Transit for indigenous cultures in the past and present. Examine several tribes in your transportation essay. Various aboriginal cultures have unique approaches to transit. What factors influenced their emergence? 

Topics for an Essay on Transportation Systems 

Transportation systems are various means of carrying goods or people. These include air, water, and land transport. All of their components are interconnected, with each one serving a unique role.  

• Intelligent Transportation Systems: how AI transforms the industry.  Explore the latest innovative ideas with this topic. Will AI systems define the future of supply chain management?  
• Transport systems and sustainability: working toward a better future. It’s not easy to maintain an environmentally friendly approach in the transportation industry. Your essay can explore several recent solutions.  
• Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs): what are the prospects? CAVs are a recent yet promising development. Will they be the next milestone in public mobility?
• Control of hazardous materials: key concerns.  Environmental hazards are often mentioned in conjunction with public transport issues. This concern harkens back to the problem of sustainability. Further research on this topic can help improve road management. 
• Video detection: opportunities for flexible data capture. This future-oriented essay will be fascinating to write. For example, you can research the options that digital video detection tools offer.  
• AI-based traffic control frameworks.  Traffic control is a crucial factor in road management. What innovative tools were introduced in recent years? Review them in your paper. 
• Deep learning in transportation systems.  Technological updates are essential for preventing accidents. What opportunities does deep learning offer in this regard?
• Complex system software for improving the road management system. You can focus your essay on IT tools. What type of software is required to navigate a modern transportation framework? Review its various opportunities.
• Construction and structural design of road systems.  Road designs change to reflect our current needs. Today it’s essential to make them safe and sustainable. Look into the industry trends and outline them in your paper. 
• Integration of manufacturing systems. Lean production is an exciting idea to explore. How can manufacturing systems help in improving the transportation sector?
• Manufacturing, modeling, and simulation.  Explore modeling and simulation as tools for creating safer vehicles. Can they increase the efficacy of current transportation systems? 

Ideas for an Essay on Transportation and Communication

Communication is intrinsically connected with transportation. From the dawn of humanity, people exchanged goods and information by traveling. Throughout the ages, the speed of these exchanges increased. Today, our opportunities regarding communication are practically endless. Enjoy researching them in your essay!

• Ways of increasing market size using transportation and communication. For this paper, analyze the changes in the target market attributes. What influences market size?
• Role of communication in informing the public about disasters. Discuss disaster preparedness and information management.
• How do transport and communication improve travel accessibility? Assess the extent of this change. What are its economic implications?
• Investments in infrastructure development.  Analyze the current model of managing transport-related financial concerns. Does focusing on socioeconomic factors make it effective? 
• Policymaking as an issue in transportation and communication. Analyze the implications of policymaking on economic development. Will development rates increase if we reconsider the existing policies?
• Updating policies for cargo storage handling. In your essay, review the issues of cargo management. How can we make it better?
• Investing in transportation and communication. Point out the connections between investment and the socioeconomic environment. 

• Spatial problems in building a transport system network.  Spatial problems cause multiple infrastructure issues. Study them and expose the issues in building of transportation and communication channels.  
• Economic issues in transport management: key outcomes.  Your essay could also delve into the financial problems of transit. Transport should be linked in a working system. Otherwise, you can expect dire consequences for its management.  
• Ways of increasing reliability of data management. Information management directly affects the realm of transport. The reliability of the data determines its effectiveness. How can we improve it? 
• Building a global transportation and communication system.  With this topic, you can review critical global transport trends. Explore advantages and drawbacks of the innovation. Pay attention to the development of a worldwide framework.  
• Transportation and communication: gateway to economic development.  Economic changes will lead to improved communication within transport systems. As a result, it will become more efficient. Encourage this improvement by writing an essay about it. 

Benefits of Public Transportation: Essay Topics

Nowadays, public transportation is losing its popularity. More and more people prefer buying a car instead. However, buses and subways still have numerous benefits. Explore them with this list of essay topics:

• What are the three main benefits of urban public transport?  Talk about how public transportation improves life in the cities. Mention how subways are faster than any type of private urban transport.   
• How does public transit benefit the environment?  Discuss how it helps to keep the air clean by reducing CO2 emissions. 
• Private transport is not as safe as public transit. Talk about how safe public transport is. Unlike traveling by car, it has fewer accidents, traffic casualties, and deaths.
• In what ways does mass transit reduce health issues?  Here you can mention how the use of subways increases physical activity.  
• Public transportation gives people more free time.  For instance, it allows passengers to read, study, or work instead of watching the road. It can also reduce the commute time. 
• Why is public transit perfect for tourists? Discuss how it helps tourists to learn more about the places they travel to.
• Public transportation contributes to the country’s economy. For example, it creates job opportunities such as drivers and dispatchers.
• Mass transit is the best way to travel. You can interview people who prefer to use public transport. Mention how it helps them to save money and time.
• How does public transportation help to reduce air pollution? For instance, you can mention that using it leads to fewer car emissions.
• The importance of efficient public transportation.  Explain how the development of mass transit helps to improve people’s lives. For example, it allows them to commute to work and travel between cities and countries.  
• Public transit helps to reduce traffic congestion in the big cities.  You can assess the role of an efficient transport system with timetables.  
• How does technology change public transportation? Talk about technological development that helps to improve the mass transit system, making it more convenient.
• What makes up an efficient public transport system? Mention various means of transport, as well as good routes and timetables.
• Reasons why you should use public transportation.  You can discuss its safety, convenience, and other benefits. 
• The popularity of mass transit in the modern world. Talk about how it allows people to travel to work and visit other cities or countries.

Essay on Air Transportation: Topics & Ideas

The invention of air transport was one of the greatest milestones in human history. It allowed us to travel faster and safer than ever before. Are you interested in aircraft and its various uses? Check out these examples of air transportation essay topics:

• The effect of air transportation on tourism.  Mention that the developments of air services have shaped tourism in many countries. 
• The main benefits of air transportation.  For example, talk about how it allows people to travel far distances in a relatively short amount of time.  
• Aviation and its adverse effects on the environment.  Discuss how aircraft use contributes to air, noise, water, and soil pollution.  and soil pollution.  
• Economic development and aviation. Discuss how air transportation contributed to the global economy. For instance, you can mention the development of tourism.
• Traveling by plane is safer than road transportation.  Here you can mention that despite many flights dispatched each day worldwide, the reports of crashes are very rare. On roads, however, no day goes by without a report of a motor accident. 
• What are the reasons for the rise of air transportation?  Explain why it became popular. For example, you can talk about how air travel became more accessible for people. 
• Why is air transportation more efficient than high-speed rail?  Mention how a plane can get you anywhere, as it doesn’t need roads.  
• Aviation and its accessibility.  For example, you can mention the prices of the tickets and the number of airports in different countries.  
• Main reasons why air transportation is safe.  Talk about the high-security standards in airports. Give some statistics that show how rarely accidents occur. You can also mention how airplanes and helicopters are equipped for emergencies. 
• Air transportation and globalization. Talk about how aviation contributed to globalization, allowing people to travel and transport goods over significant distances.
• What is the importance of air transportation?  Discuss the benefits of air transportation and how it helps to improve people’s lives. 
• Pros and cons of air transport.  The development of air transportation helped to improve communication between the countries.  On the downside, it has a serious environmental impact. 
• Does air transportation have any environmental benefits?  Discuss whether aviation affects nature only in a negative way. You can talk about the technological improvements that help modern airplanes to emit less carbon monoxide.  
• The political importance of air transportation. Here you can talk about how the development of air transportation improved communication between nations. You can also mention how aircraft can be used as a weapon.
• Ways to improve air transportation. Talk about technological development that can make traveling by plane more environmentally friendly.

Extra Transportation Topics

Still haven’t found a suitable topic? Well, here are 76 more transportation essay ideas:

• The importance of transportation for a country’s economy.  Review the main effects of urban transport on different aspects of the economy and assess its significance. 
• The public transport system. Research the sphere of different transport modes and determine how they’re connected.
• Transportation in times of the Industrial Revolution.  The industrial revolution has influenced today’s transport economy in many ways. The transport organization of that period is an interesting topic to research. 
• Urban transport improvement in developing countries.  Focus the research on finding ways to solve transport problems. You may also propose a new transport policy.
• Adjustments for transport fares in a city of your choice. The essay may identify issues in the transport economy and suggests measures for its improvement.
• Raising funds for transport improvement.  With this topic, you can focus on different fundraising strategies, such as public campaigns. With this topic, you can focus on different fundraising strategies, such as public campaigns. 
• Types of government interventions in air transport organization.  The essay may review existing governmental instruments for improving air transportation in a region.
• Balancing supply and demand in rural transport economy.  You can explore this important topic by identifying issues in rural transport and reviewing strategies for matching supply and demand. 
• Application of economic theory to urban transport.  For this essay, study various economic theories and see which of them can be applied to different modes of transport. 
• Effective transport systems in various countries. One option is to study several examples of public transport in India and South Africa.
• Development of water transport. This essay can explore how different modes of water transport could improve a city’s connectivity.
• Recent economic trends in rural transport
• How to choose transport for people with mental disorders 
• Current healthcare-related transport issues in the United States 
• A dilemma of animal-powered transport and animal rights
• The idea of transportation from the Amish point of view
• Travel by train or by plane: the importance of psychological factors
• Story of the first car made by Francois Isaac de Rivaz
• Public  transportation in the USA : the 1990s vs. the 2000s
• Rail transport: 5 issues to worry about in the 21st century
• Peculiarities of shooting films on trains:  Murder on the Orient Express  
• Importance of communication during travel by plane
• Threats of cruise ships: Titanic’s story 
• Passenger 57  vs.  Speed : movies about transportation challenges
• The Fast and the Furious : a wave of popularity for car movies
• Is it acceptable to text while driving?
• Toll roads in the USA: an important inequality issue
• Pixar’s Cars : what does it teach us about transport?
• Advertisement banners in the subway: a powerful marketing tool or a peril? 
• School bus transportation in Europe and the United States
• What emotional problems do students face when they use school buses?
• Bike lanes in parks: the question of safety
• Cycling infrastructure: threats and benefits for drivers
• Who is responsible for safety in aviation? 
• Transport that kills: the case of 9/11
• Riding a motorcycle: benefits and possible risks
• Special free training programs to support motorcycle safety 
• Public helipads in the city: equipment that matters
• Traffic congestion in the United States: causes and solutions 
• Impact of traffic jams on human health and employment
• Overpopulation or lack of roads: what toughens traffic congestion? 
• Safety of cable transport: how to behave in elevators
• Reasons to visit the Moon: spaceflight access for Americans 
• Gas pipelines: a safe means of transportation or a reason for concern?
• Benefits of ferry transport: a place for contemplation
• Water bike free access: the necessity of a license
• Illegal behavior of drivers : lessons to learn
• What are the most common driving distractions?
• Traffic jams and their impact on human behavior 
• Electric transportation technologies of the 21st century 
• Hygiene in public transport: subway threats for Americans
• Driving accidents: the roles of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians 
• Transportation lessons from movies: Gone in 60 Seconds
• Types of conflicts between motorcyclists and car drivers
• Availability of transport for low-income families in the United States
• Why do people need vehicles in their lives? 
• What would happen if all modern transport disappeared? 
• Pros and cons of transportation progress in society
• Competition between different transportation systems
• Differences between airline flight classes: are they equally safe? 
• Child car seat: a new law and new power 
• The popularity of monorail tracks in different parts of the world
• Do people actually like using transport or do they just have to do it?
• The effects of drunk driving on road traffic death rates.
• Gas prices and human needs: solutions for drivers 
• What can your car tell about you?  
• Environmental concerns in car driving discussions : dilemma without a solution
• Public and private transportation: how to make the right choice 
• You can live without a car, but do you want it? 
• Transportation in healthcare: goals, techniques, and outcomes
• Emotions while driving: the importance of control and expert help
• Radio, phone calls, and communication: threats for drivers 
• Plane and train traveling: history and current situation 
• Water transportation characteristics and techniques: sea vs. river
• Space for people: what should you know about spaceflights? 
• A variety of transport in the  James Bond  franchise 

If you haven’t found what you’re looking for, feel free to use our topic generator !

✍️ Transportation Essay Outline & Writing Guide

Now that you’ve chosen a perfect transportation topic, you’re ready to learn how to plan your essay. Similar to any other type of academic writing, a transportation essay consists of three main parts:

Now, let’s see how to write each essay part.

Transportation Essay Introduction

An introduction is the first part of the essay. Its goal is to let the reader know what they can expect from this work. Try to make your introduction as brief and straightforward as possible.

Since the introductory paragraph starts the paper, it has to draw the reader’s attention. The most effective way to achieve it is by using a hook . A question, an interesting fact, or statistics can work as a hook:

Why is public transportation important?

Did you know that in 2019 Americans took around 9.9 billion trips using public transportation?

After you’re done with the hook, do the following:

• State what your paper is about. The reader needs to know the essay’s main topic and why it is important.
• Provide some background information. It will help you to establish the issue.
• Finally, build a strong thesis statement. Want to know how? Read the following section.

What Is the Strongest Thesis for an Essay on Public Transportation?

A thesis statement is a sentence that contains an answer to your paper’s central question. It helps you organize and develop your arguments and ideas. It also makes it easier for the reader to follow your logic.

To generate a good thesis statement, think of a question you will answer in your essay. For instance, let’s say your topic is “Explain how using public transportation can benefit people’s health.” With a topic like this, you may choose a question such as “What are the health benefits of using public transport?”

After you have a question, you can think of some answers to it. For instance:

• The possible health benefits of using public transportation are that it helps to be more active, reduces stress, and keeps the air cleaner.
• Using public transportation can help people stay more active, avoid stress, and keep the air cleaner.

Keep in mind that a thesis statement shouldn’t be too general. Try to narrow down the topics so that it becomes more specific. Take a look at the following thesis examples:

Transportation Essay: Main Body

In the essay’s body, you prove your thesis and support it with examples. If you have a simple thesis, you probably won’t need many body paragraphs to explain your ideas. Usually, 2 or 3 are enough.

Each of the main body paragraphs should contain:

Transportation Essay Conclusion

In a conclusion, you go back to the main focus of your essay. When writing a concluding paragraph, make sure to:

• Rephrase the thesis statement. Remind the reader of your main argument using the information you have discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Summarize the points you’ve made. It’s better to avoid mentioning new information in your conclusion. Briefly summarize the points you’ve made and explain how they support your ideas.
• Talk about the argument’s significance. Demonstrate why the discussion on this topic is important. For instance, you may demonstrate how your argument helps shed light on a neglected issue. You can also suggest what the reader can do with the information they’ve learned.

📑 Public Transportation Essay Sample

Looking for an example a transportation essay? Look no further! Below, you will find an excellent essay example. Check it out:

We hope that this article helped you write your essay. Tell us in the comments which transportation topic you’ve chosen. Don’t forget to check our free tips on other essay types!

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• People and Place: Building Better Transportation Systems: Bush Center
• Core Components of Transportation: Transport Geography
• Communication and Transportation: Encyclopedia.com
• Transportation: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Transportation: History.com
• Transportation Trends: Deloitte.com
• Air Freight – Trade Finance Global
• The Early Airlines You Might Not Have Heard Of: Smithsonian Institution
• Logistics Definition: Investopedia
• What is Public Transportation: Modes and Benefits: Conserve Energy Future
• Public Transportation Can Save the World—If We Let It: The Verge
• Public Transportation Systems: County Health Rankings
• The Role of Transport and Communication Infrastructure in Realizing Development Outcomes: Research Gate
• The Transportation-Communication Revolution: 50 Years of Dramatic Change in Economic Development: CATO Institute
• The Top 10 Benefits of Public Transportation: Smart Cities Dive
• Public Transportation Facts: American Public Transportation Association
• Expand Public Transportation Systems and Offer Incentives: US Department of Transportation
• Environmental Benefits of Public Transportation: South University
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We must consider our attention to opening the main purpose of using them.

Thanks for giving me a reference for my introduction to my essay☺️!

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It was really helpful now I have gathered many points on which I had to speak. Thanxxx

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IELTS Cambridge 16 Essay: Driverless Vehicles

by Dave | Cambridge 16 | 14 Comments

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of driverless vehicles, cars, buses and trucks from Cambridge IELTS 16.

Find all the other Cambridge 16 essays and tips for studying in the complete IELTS Cambridge 16 guide here .

Please consider supporting me on Patreon.com/howtodoielts to receive my exclusive IELTS Ebooks – you can even sign up for private live lessons with me!

In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicles will be passengers.

Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweigh the disadvantages?

A future filled with driverless vehicles is an inevitability. In my opinion, though there are concomitant moral risks, the practical import for health of such a seismic shift will be positive on the whole.

Critics of this trend suggest that machines should not be responsible for the potential loss of human life. This argument rests on the fact that when there is an accident involving humans, it is possible to either assess blame and assign punishment or accept that human error played a role. In contrast, an individual severely injured as the result of a collision caused by a machine may justly feel that all human autonomy and free will is absent from their fate. This is analogous to a natural disaster with the crucial distinction being that humanity has engineered the situation. It is human nature to prefer to control a situation rather than surrender the outcome to an autonomous machine.

Proponents of automated vehicles, on the other hand, argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for this is that humans are prone to errors related to fatigue, distractions such as smartphones, and, in some cases, altered states. Machines might experience the occasional technical error, however, they are far more consistent by comparison. In fact, the few accidents that have occurred with automated vehicles were the fault of human drivers. If all cars were driverless, this would enable a greater level of sophistication that could, theoretically, all but eliminate automobile accidents.

In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, safer roads fully justify this innovation. Companies and consumers must be wary of the influence of automation while also embracing its most transparent benefits.

1. A future filled with driverless vehicles is an inevitability. 2. In my opinion, though there are concomitant moral risks, the practical import for health of such a seismic shift will be positive on the whole.

• Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
• Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here .

1. Critics of this trend suggest that machines should not be responsible for the potential loss of human life. 2. This argument rests on the fact that when there is an accident involving humans, it is possible to either assess blame and assign punishment or accept that human error played a role. 3. In contrast, an individual severely injured as the result of a collision caused by a machine may justly feel that all human autonomy and free will is absent from their fate. 4. This is analogous to a natural disaster with the crucial distinction being that humanity has engineered the situation. 5. It is human nature to prefer to control a situation rather than surrender the outcome to an autonomous machine.

• Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
• Explain your main idea.
• Develop it with specific examples/argument.
• Vary long and short sentences and switch to a second reason.
• Stay focused on the second main idea.

1. Proponents of automated vehicles, on the other hand, argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety. 2. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. 3. The reason for this is that humans are prone to errors related to fatigue, distractions such as smartphones, and, in some cases, altered states. 4. Machines might experience the occasional technical error, however, they are far more consistent by comparison. 5. In fact, the few accidents that have occurred with automated vehicles were the fault of human drivers. 6. If all cars were driverless, this would enable a greater level of sophistication that could, theoretically, all but eliminate automobile accidents.

• Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
• Explain your new main idea.
• Include specific details and examples.
• Continue developing it…
• as fully as possible!
• Conclude with the furthest possible result.

1. In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, safer roads fully justify this innovation. 2. Companies and consumers must be wary of the influence of automation while also embracing its most transparent benefits.

• Summarise your main ideas.
• Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here .

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

A future filled with driverless vehicles is an inevitability . In my opinion, though there are concomitant moral risks , the practical import for health of such a seismic shift will be positive on the whole .

Critics of this trend suggest that machines should not be responsible for the potential loss of human life. This argument rests on the fact that when there is an accident involving humans, it is possible to either assess blame and assign punishment or accept that human error played a role . In contrast , an individual severely injured as the result of a collision caused by a machine may justly feel that all human autonomy and free will is absent from their fate . This is analogous to a natural disaster with the crucial distinction being that humanity has engineered the situation . It is human nature to prefer to control a situation rather than surrender the outcome to an autonomous machine.

Proponents of automated vehicles , on the other hand , argue the tangible ramifications concerning public safety . The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that driverless vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for this is that humans are prone to errors related to fatigue , distractions such as smartphones, and, in some cases , altered states . Machines might experience the occasional technical error , however, they are far more consistent by comparison . In fact , the few accidents that have occurred with automated vehicles were the fault of human drivers. If all cars were driverless, this would enable a greater level of sophistication that could, theoretically , all but eliminate automobile accidents .

In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, safer roads fully justify this innovation . Companies and consumers must be wary of the influence of automation while also embracing its most transparent benefits .

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

filled with full of

driverless vehicles cars that drive themselves

inevitability will definitely happen

though despite

concomitant related, coming from this

moral risks ethical considerations

practical import actual impact

seismic shift huge change

positive on the whole good overall

critics detractors

trend pattern

suggest say

responsible have a duty

potential loss possible death

argument rests on the fact that position is based in

involving having to do with

possible potential

either assess blame one option is that you can say who is responsible

assign punishment sentence them

accept recognize

human error mistakes by people

played a role had a part in

in contrast however

severely injured hurt badly

as the result of because of

collision accident

caused by happens because of

justly fair

human autonomy people choosing

free will choice

absent lacking

fate what will happen to you in life

analogous comparative to

natural disaster hurricanes, tsunamis, etc.

crucial distinction key difference

engineered the situation created the event

human nature how people are

prefer would rather

control have power over

rather than instead of

surrender give over power to

outcome result

autonomous freedom

proponents supporters

automated vehicles driverless cars, self-driving cars

on the other hand however

argue claim

tangible ramifications real impact

concerning having to do with

public safety the health of people

overwhelmingly clearly

driverless vehicles self-driving automobiles

prone have a tendency to

errors mistakes

fatigue tiredness

distractions ways to lose attention

in some cases sometimes

altered states drunk, under the influence of a substance

occasional sometimes

technical error computer mistake

far more consistent much more reliable

by comparison compared to that

in fact actually

occurred happened

fault mistake

enable allow for

greater level higher

sophistication complexity

theoretically hypothetically

all but eliminate automobile accidents nearly gotten rid of

safer roads fewer accidents

justify give good reason

innovation change

wary worried about

influence effect on

embracing welcoming

most transparent benefits very clear advantages

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search :

fɪld wɪð   ˈdraɪvələs ˈviːɪklz   ɪnˌɛvɪtəˈbɪlɪti ðəʊ   kənˈkɒmɪtənt   ˈmɒrəl rɪsks ˈpræktɪkəl ˈɪmpɔːt   ˈsaɪzmɪk ʃɪft   ˈpɒzətɪv ɒn ðə həʊl ˈkrɪtɪks   trɛnd   səˈʤɛst   rɪsˈpɒnsəbl   pəʊˈtɛnʃəl lɒs   ˈɑːgjʊmənt rɛsts ɒn ðə fækt ðæt   ɪnˈvɒlvɪŋ   ˈpɒsəbl   ˈaɪðər əˈsɛs bleɪm   əˈsaɪn ˈpʌnɪʃmənt   əkˈsɛpt   ˈhjuːmən ˈɛrə   pleɪd ə rəʊl ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst sɪˈvɪəli ˈɪnʤəd   æz ðə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv   kəˈlɪʒən   kɔːzd baɪ   ˈʤʌstli   ˈhjuːmən ɔːˈtɒnəmi   friː wɪl   ˈæbsənt   feɪt əˈnæləgəs   ˈnæʧrəl dɪˈzɑːstə   ˈkruːʃəl dɪsˈtɪŋkʃən   ˌɛnʤɪˈnɪəd ðə ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃən ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪʧə   priˈfɜː   kənˈtrəʊl   ˈrɑːðə ðæn   səˈrɛndə   ˈaʊtkʌm   ɔːˈtɒnəməs   prəˈpəʊnənts   ˈɔːtəmeɪtɪd ˈviːɪklz ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd ˈɑːgjuː   ˈtænʤəbl ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz   kənˈsɜːnɪŋ   ˈpʌblɪk ˈseɪfti ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋli   ˈdraɪvələs ˈviːɪklz   prəʊn   ˈɛrəz   fəˈtiːg dɪsˈtrækʃənz   ɪn sʌm ˈkeɪsɪz ˈɔːltəd steɪts əˈkeɪʒənl   ˈtɛknɪkəl ˈɛrə fɑː mɔː kənˈsɪstənt   baɪ kəmˈpærɪsn ɪn fækt əˈkɜːd   fɔːlt   ɪˈneɪbl   ˈgreɪtə ˈlɛvl   səˌfɪstɪˈkeɪʃən   θɪəˈrɛtɪkəli ɔːl bʌt ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt ˈɔːtəməʊbiːl ˈæksɪdənts ˈseɪfə rəʊdz   ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ   ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃən ˈweəri   ˈɪnflʊəns   ɪmˈbreɪsɪŋ   məʊst trænsˈpeərənt ˈbɛnɪfɪts

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

A future f_____________h d____________________s is an i______________y . In my opinion, t_________h there are c______________t m____________s , the p________________t for health of such a s_____________t will be p__________________e .

C_______s of this t______d s________t that machines should not be r____________e for the p____________s of human life. This a_________________________t when there is an accident i___________g humans, it is p__________e to e__________________e and a__________________t or a_____t that h_____________r p________________e . I_____________t , an individual s_______________d a_____________________f a c_________n c___________y a machine may j________y feel that all h________________y and f__________l is a_________t from their f____e . This is a_____________s to a n______________r with the c__________________n being that humanity has e_____________________________n . It is h________________e to p_______r to c________l a situation r___________n s____________r the o_________e to an a______________s machine.

P___________s of a_________________s , o__________________d , a_______e the t________________________s c_____________g p_______________y . The evidence o_________________y suggests that d___________________s cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for this is that humans are p______e to e_______s related to f_________e , d____________s such as smartphones, and, i_______________s , a_______________s . Machines might experience the o____________l t___________________r , however, they are f______________________________________n . I__________t , the few accidents that have o____________d with automated vehicles were the f_______t of human drivers. If all cars were driverless, this would e________e a g_____________l of s_______________n that could, t______________y , a___________________________________________s .

In conclusion, though many accidents will occur without human agency playing a role, s___________s fully j__________y this i___________n . Companies and consumers must be w____y of the i__________e of automation while also e____________g its m_________________________s .

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities :

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice :

https://www.wired.com/story/guide-self-driving-cars/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam :

Public Transport  (Model answer available on my  Patreon )

• Does your city use a lot of public transport?
• When was the last time you used public transport?
• Will you still use public transport in the future?
• What would you like to change about the public transport in your city?

Writing Practice

Practice with the same basic topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Today different types of robots are being developed which can serve as companions and workers to help at work and at home.

Is this a positive or negative development?

IELTS Essay: Robots Helping at Home and Work

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14 Comments

Hello, in this essay can I describe one disadvantage in 1st body paragraph and two advantages in 2nd and 3rd body paragraph and finish my conclusion by saying advantages far outweigh disadvantages. Is it correct to format this essay in 3 body paragraph?

Sure, Sandra.

That structure makes perfect sense!

Ok. Cool. Thanx.

Driverless vehicles, such as, buses, cars and truck will become reality someday and those inside such vehicles will only be passengers. I believe that this has more benefits than drawbacks. To begin with, automated vehicles have several undeniable disadvantages. One of the major negatives aspect is related to cost of technology. The amount of software and technology that is required to build driverless vehicles is more likely to be quite expensive,meaning these costs need to be recoup through high sales prices. Consumers may not want to pay such exorbitant costs for these vehicles and may prefer to traditional one’s. The drawback mentioned above should be taken seriously,however, it pales in comparison to numerous benefits it offers. Firstly, it reduces number of incidents of vehicular accidents up to a greater extent. Studies have overwhelmingly shown that automated vehicles cause fewer accidents than humans. The reason for that is humans are prone to errors related to fatigue, distractions, such as smartphones and altered states. Machines might experience occasional error but often outperforms human drivers in terms of driving. Driverless vehicles offer greater level of sophistication that eliminates instances of vehicular collision considerably. Secondly, it offers greater mobility to disabled individuals. Many disabled individuals who aren’t able to drive a car often rely on public transportation, which can be difficult depending on their circumstances. With driverless vehicles, many disabled passengers can enjoy the benefits of enhanced mobility and no longer have to rely on public transportation. In conclusion, despite the drawback related to higher cost and affordability, advantages concerning road safety and conviniences for elderly and disabled make them clearly a positive development. Hence, the merits of automated vehicles certainly far outweigh the disadvantages.

Great, Sandra!

I assume you know it doesn’t have paragraphs but besides that it is strong, some small grammar mistakes: recouped, prefer traditional…, the numerous, the number, etc.

Keep it up!

Thank you for your generosity and valuable feedback. I m really great ful to you and yeah, I am aware of paragraphs, it had 3 body paragraph but after posting it, it became like this. Thanks a lot again!

No problem, Sandra!

Please give feedback

Due to extensive research in the automobile industry, in the near future it has been forecasted that the jobs of human drivers will be taken over by automated self-driving artificial intelligence. This change can be fascinating to imagine as projected in some sci-fi movies, but to what extent it is advantageous to human beings needs to be examined. Though advancement in this technology will be beneficial, in my opinion, this trend has more drawbacks than benefits. In the forthcoming paragraphs, I will support my opinion with reasons. 

On the one hand, there are many advantages to driverless vehicles. The problem of lack of human resources will be eliminated. Costs such as training, pensions, and wages will not be applicable. There will never be absenteeism which will ensure public transportation is always on time and without delay as well as around-the-clock services are feasible. Furthermore, people who cannot drive will also be able to take their private cars out by just feeding in the instructions for location into their driverless car gps system.

On the other hand, a number of disadvantages of computer driven motors can be anticipated. First and foremost, due to the implementation of driverless vehicles, a vast population will become unemployed, which will result in increased burden on the government since they will have to take measures to improve the employment rate. Secondly, there will be a high cost involved in upgrading all the systems, which will require an astronomical amount of capital. Only developed countries can afford to do this, because developing countries would rather spend their limited budget on social needs than on technological upgrades. Lastly, machines require continuous maintenance of software to function properly. There is no denial that AI comes with the risk of viruses and hacking, so if people with heinous intentions hack the automobile systems server, then the entire chain of driverless cars will become vulnerable and unreliable until a resolution is found.

In conclusion, driverless cars, buses, and trucks do have a few benefits, but they are overshadowed by disadvantages. Undoubtedly, computers are superior to humans in many ways, but they lack the human touch and pragmatic logical thinking that only humans possess. 

Nice job, Samaira!

‘Few would deny’ is a better phrase – more nuanced and also try to balance your body paragraphs a little better.

Thank you, Sir Dave.

Sir/anyone, please feedback. Thanks.

Since the advent of technology, land transportation would be autonomous in the near future, and only passengers would be inside these self-driving machines. Although there are possible unemployment and technical errors, in this essay, I will elaborate on why I believe that convenience and road safety is far beneficial than the downsides.

The potential negative impact on this high technology in the transportation sector is the loss of jobs of thousands of public drivers. Since this automatic machine does not require a manual driver, public vehicle drivers such as taxis and busses will lose their primary source of income, resulting in a higher unemployment rate. It was estimated that 5% of people in New York City alone would be jobless once this phenomenon is fully ramped up. Another point is the inevitable risk of technical problems. This machine is no different from a personal laptop that experiences a sudden hibernation. If this driverless machine shutdown for no reason and the owner has no technical knowledge, he will be stuck in the middle of the road and could be caused congestion, which is chaotic.

On the other hand, proponents of this new advancement, including myself, believe in the great convenience it can offer. Machines don’t get tired and can operate longer without interruption compared to humans. Imagine after whole day work in the office; people can start to relax once you get into their car to their house and even faster for a long road trip, as this will save hours on a stopover to rest. Similarly, this would reduce the enormous number of fatal cases. Robots can constantly work in focus and are programmed to follow traffic rules. Driving in a school zone area, for instance, this AI will automatically set to the maximum speed limit at 40kmp, avoiding possible accidents and making the community safer. Undoubtedly, these self-driving vehicles provide great comfort and alleviate more fatalities than ever before.

In conclusion, advancement in transportation is inescapable. While there is a risk of technical issues and losing jobs, in my opinion, the benefits of convenience and a safe and sound society are far more beneficial in the long term scale.

A little long but good work, Vi!

Some collocations are a little off but overall it is strong writing. Nice examples too.

Keep up the hard work!

Hey Dave, I’m always learning new structures and words from your writing, thanks!

Below is a sample I wrote before reading your sample:

The vehicles of the future have been envisioned to be virtually driverless, with only the passengers being present inside. While many are reluctant to accept this idea as a future possibility with their distrust of such technology, the positive aspects of this phenomenon surpass the drawbacks by a large margin.     Firstly, a car being driverless means that artificial intelligence will be incorporated into it and everything will be done automatically. This means that the chances of an accident occurring will become slim, in fact, the chances of an accident due to error of the ‘driver’ will be reduced to zero, and an accident will only occur when there is an external disturbance, such as a car being manually crashed into a driverless car, or for example, when a cat or dog unpredictably runs in front of the car. This, of course, is not an excuse to undermine the immense benefits we get in terms of safety from a driverless car.   Secondly, a driverless car will have built-in systems, such as communications systems so it will also know the position of other cars in that area so it can avoid traffic congested routes and reach its destination in the most efficient way possible. This will reduce the average time taken to reach their destination, and will benefit the community as a whole. In contrast, humans are not capable of making the best decisions even if presented with live traffic flow, and though they can sometimes avoid huge traffic by seeing live traffic, it is still highly improbable that all humans will work in harmony to achieve the most efficient route possible. Driverless cars, on the other hand, will be communicating with each other constantly to arrive at an optimum path.     In conclusion, driverless cars will not only introduce greater assurance of safety but also ameliorate the traffic congestions that waste so many hours of human life every day.

Keep it up, Nadeem!

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Transportation in the United States Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Historical background, future of us transportation network.

The nineteenth century saw arise of economies of various nations across the globe. Alongside this growth was the development of strong transportation networks/systems. The settlers movement to the West of America further facilitated spread of technology and hence development of better transport facilities.

The growth of cities and industrial centers demanded the revolution of the transport industry to suit the emerging needs As a result of development (Caltrans 2). As the world opens up to a new dawn, one cannot help but question whether the approach taken then, at managing transportation was the best.

Milestone in development of transport networks were characterized with increased road network construction; introduction of advanced equipment like steam boats, and most fundamentally, introduction of railroads. Despite America being a leading global economy for many years, it is still confronted by commuter crises, crowded airports, crowded air lanes, screeching airplanes, archaic control equipment, abuses of safety regulations, roads that falls below its perceived global glory.

The transportation network in America forms the pillar upon which the economy runs. Applauded, as one of the best networks in the world, the system provides services to businesses, markets, recreation centers, and jobs among many others. In essence, the transportation touches on the life of every American. It is comprised of road, rail, air, and water networks. While short distances are dominated by automobiles, long distance is mainly based on air transport (Luxner 15).

The state and the local government own a vast majority of roads. Though the federal government funds some roads like the inter-state highways, the state still have an obligation to maintain the roads. However, there are a few private highways where tool charges are used to fund construction and maintenance. Most of the local roads are however concentrated in the remote parts of the country.

The freight/passenger railway systems, bus services, and water ferry services are classified as either public owned or privately owned (Pucher, and Dijkstra 13). Private ownership is more pronounced across the civilian airlines. Most airports are however owned by the government though there are few privately owned.

The American transportation system has developed over the years to be what it is today. Horse transportation dominated in the late 18th century. However, it must be mentioned that utilities that used to serve the country well can no longer meet their obligations now. Though transportation is obviously only one of many daunting challenges that America faces today, it remains an exceptionally important one. Without investing adequately in transportation to refresh our models for funding and managing our system, America is in danger of losing its competitive edge. The ability to move people and goods flexibly, efficiently, and cost-effectively is as critical as ever.

It is essential not only to maintaining U.S. global competitiveness, but to nurturing a dynamic and adaptable workforce, growing local and regional economies, supporting livable communities, and reducing the environmental and national security liabilities of our continued dependence on petroleum fuels for nearly all our transportation needs. The task is two-fold: to maintain and improve existing infrastructure and systems, which are increasingly overloaded and inadequately maintained, while also investing in the new systems and technologies that will be needed to meet the mobility needs of the future.

The transport infrastructures have far too long been left at free hand. The central government concentrated resources in other areas at the expense of the nations transport sector. The first government expenditure on highways was aimed at speeding up overland mail. This includes the Boston Post Road connecting New York and Boston (Bookman 31).

With the economic fortunes recorded in the 18 th century, canals were built to meet the rising demand for faster travel e.g. the Erie Canal (Pucher, and Dijkstra 16). Upstream transit remained impracticable until the introduction of stream boats which facilitated passenger and freight movement from one point to another. However, it must be acknowledged that the overall structure has remained laissez faire with negligible regulation.

Chronic underfunding, especially on maintenance of existing infrastructure, has exposed the systems to significant degradation, thus weakening the system leading breakdown of some fundamental components. Currently the cost for fixing the resources is largely incomparable to the resource requirement aimed at diverting the anticipated system failure.

An urban mobility report in 2009, illustrates the magnitude at which the free-hand in transportation system costs the economy. It was estimated that in 2007 only, total fuel waste and loss in production amounted to $87.2 billion translating to $750 for every driver in the US (DeBoer, David and Kaufman Lawrence 46). The slight congestion decline in 2008 and 2009, reflected disconnect between government intervention or road maintenance and the changing economic situations (DeBoer and Lawrence 47). One may presume that, as the country’s economy enlarges, a corresponding mechanism by the government to intervene is lacking.

It is important to note that transport affects every citizen of America. Luxner mentions that of eight jobs in America, at least one is linked to the transport sector (18). Statistics also indicate that around 11% of the country’s GDP is contributed by the transport sector. This translates to approximately $950 yearly (Bureau of statistics 11). Further it is estimated that 19% of household spending by average American families is directed on transport which exceeds food and healthcare projected spending.

The system generally engages over 4.7 trillion passenger travel miles and an additional 3.7 million domestic freight ton miles. These are generated by a population of 270 million persons, approximately 6.7 million business entities and a total of 88,000 units of government. Rail and maritime transport sector accounts 11% of total transported tonnage. The major road in the country constitutes around 25,000 miles, while the waterways comprise a total of 500 miles (Bureau of statistics 15).

The sector has been cited as having the potential of unblocking America’s fortunes in the future as new challenges emerge. America is in need of a stronger transportation network in the coming future to move people and goods efficiently. The highway links the infrastructural networks across the nation. They are therefore critical in interconnecting the nations transport networks across various states and its neighbors. Additionally, 600,000 bridges have been constructed across the major highways within the nation (U.S. Government Accountability Office 39).

However, states and local government retain authority over highways traversing their jurisdiction. All highways however, form part of the integrated national transport system. The transit system on the other hand is a product of various multi-occupancy vehicle services which are meant for transport of clients both in regional routes and local ones.

More than 500 public transportation systems are operated off government regulation. 4% and 1% are commuter rail cars and light rail cars respectively. It is estimated that in 2007, more than 10 billion passengers used public transportation. The development of passenger rail roads has been challenged by the emergence of low cost air travel options for long distance and the widespread presence of private automobiles used for short journeys.

Amtrak also known as the National Railroad Passenger Corporation’s entry into rail passenger services saw it drive away private firms from the intercity railway services (U.S. Government Accountability Office 39). This was an indication of the government realization of the shortfalls of its laissez fair approach. Its take-over saw rebuilding of facilities and public investment attraction with regard to tracks and stations. An example is the North East Corridor.

Developing air travel pervasiveness is visible by the ever increasing passenger numbers flown by commercially operated jets. For instance growth in 1975 was 50% yet recent growths have been set at 80% (Caltrans 2). The US maritime transportation system is made up of water ways, ports, and other transportation mode connections. America is one of the largest global economies and transportation sector acts as the cornerstone to the other entire sector that defines its economy.

Its position as the remaining world super power, puts lots of challenge to its transportation system, more so in consideration of the large business trading taking place (Caltrans 2). Focus is on maintenance of the best intermodal connections. A sit stands, the disintegrate approach taken in management of American states with each state individually handling its network has left the system rather disintegrated and hence allowed manifestation of problems.

Perhaps the laissez faire approach to road construction and maintenance failed to capture the importance of transportation to the economy and hence the need for a more centralized coordination of transport sector. Notably, a good percentage of the country’s GDP is originating from the transport industry.

The laissez faire approach failed to capture system growth within the nation. It instead shifted focus to individual states, resulting into a disjointed system. However, all is not left to the dogs, as options till exist for the federal government intervention in the future programs wit the aim of revolutionizing the transport system to suit the future prospects and ideas of America as a nation. This would pave way for establishment of strong transport structures which would provide the much need pillar to the country’s economy.

As daunting as are the problems within each major mode of transportation, some of the largest problems facing the U.S. transportation system lie at the connections between modes. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials have approved (Caltrans 3).

It is the right of the American population to decide how they invest in their transport sector and determine the most appropriate mix that would suite their needs. However, professionals must play a pro-active role in coming up with appropriate measures that would facilitate the sectors reasonable expansion (Bookman 17). Accountability and development of performance based program holds great potential to facilitate the sectors enlargement and improved efficiency taking into consideration the national goals. Comprehensive multimodal proposals urges that the federal program go “back to basics” and focus emphatically on national interests (DeBoer, David and Kaufman Lawrence 52).

These include transports infrastructure preservation and renewal, interstate connections, safety concerns, environmental concern and congestions among other aspects. Increased federal funding alongside national performance standards should be set up pursues national goals on transportation (Bookman 18). This would compel states to adhere to standards and be accountable to the federal government on invested funds. They would be obligated to remain accountable to the federal government for the investments directed towards transport.

There is no question that there is a need for substantial funding increases. In the short-term, the economic recovery bill can make a down-payment on these needs. But in the long term, we have to look at sustaining that economic impact.

Rather than the more than 100 current programs, the following six are recommended (DeBoer, David and Kaufman Lawrence 53):

• Preservation and Renewal
• Highway Safety Improvement
• Operations and Management
• Transportation System Improvement/Congestion Reduction Program
• Environment Program: Air Quality and Climate Change

As you see, it’s going to be an exciting and a critical year for transportation.

Our performance in delivering the promise of the economic recovery legislation will make the case for a robust authorization. Increase commitment to delivery of this promise is a necessity. Additionally, funding regulation need review more so with respect to the Highway Trust Fund (DeBoer, David and Kaufman Lawrence 57), the primary source of federal transportation funding, in the black.

It is quite possible we may again face a shortfall late in the year unless some action is taken, and that would threaten to undo the good done by the economic recovery legislation. Finally, we must work to deliver reform legislation that relieves congestion, provides access to rural America, reduces fatalities, doubles transit ridership, streamlines program delivery—and most important, serves the American public. We are up to the challenge! Thank you and I’ll be glad to answer any questions.

The need to review the transportation systems from a wholesome point of view was first mooted in 1991. Over the years progress has been recorded. The National Highway System Intermodal Connectors has been identified for focus in solving some of the challenges threatens the transportation system. Additionally, direct dock rail services are cited as being in dire need of revamping to suit the changing demand landscape (Caltrans 3).

It is evident that the quicker the response, the larger the possibility of alleviating further escalation of the already existing challenges. Clear connections need to b e designed to bring together the independently designed local/state road networks (Baltimore 29). Highway connector problems are best captured by re-examination of the existing connectors. A number of examples illustrate the some of the efforts which can be used in efficient re-evaluation of the intermodal connectors.

Firstly, collaboration between the state department and the other arms of government arms as well as stakeholders on project which could revolutionize the freight transportation. The need for the federal government to invest more funds into transportation development cannot be overstated. Additionally, it’s high time that the federal government directly handles major road transport operations rather than leave to the hands of then

By eliminating intersections, the fly over make it possible for trains to move at high speeds and hence save a lot of time. However, initiatives in place to revamp the transport systems remain relatively few and inconsequential (Baltimore 27). The need for further efforts to eliminate freight free flow across various impediments remains largely vital and fundamental.

A survey indicated that American voters overwhelmingly agree that broader access to transport is a necessity to their well-being. A large percentage believes that they would enormously benefits form expanded transport networks more so with regard to bus and rail services. Additionally, most Americans attach importance to availing of alternative transport networks/options to choose from when moving from one place to another. Re-evaluation of federal funds allocation to transport development is therefore in dire need of review (Anonymous 1).

Most specialists agree that more funds should be channeled to road network development and restructuring if America is to maintain its global competitiveness (DeBoer, David and Kaufman Lawrence 59). While liberalization is good, the government needs to critically re-evaluate its policies to ensure that liberalizations does not come at a cost to the very same persons it’s was intended to protect.

Generally, American population is in agreement in desire to for expanded transport system and options to facilitate the system maximum performance ability. American people share in their broad desire for expanded transport system and active federal participation in construction, preservation, and management of transport network if only to enhance efficiency (Anonymous 1). The government must therefore wake up to the challenge, re-evaluate the transport system, reconstruct the areas of weakness, and finally invest heavily in the sector to measure that American people remain protected and enjoy secured transport facilities.

Anonymous. “Annual Vehicle Distance Traveled in Miles and Related Data”. Federal Highway Administration . 2003. Web.

Anonymous. “The heartland fast-freight rail system.. Entrepreneur.com. Fall, 2007. Web.

Baltimore, Chris. “New U.S. Congress looks to boost transport,” The Boston Globe , 23(1), 2007, p 23-29.

Bookman, Jay “Opinion: Toll roads, taxes and why voters distrust leaders” . Atlanta, Georgia: Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2010, p 18.

Bureau of statistics. Pocket Guide to Transportation . 2008. Web.

Bureaus of statistics. System Mileage Within the United States : National Transportation Statistics . 2007. Web.

Caltrans, Louise. The Interstate Highway System Turns 50 . 2006. Web.

DeBoer, David and Kaufman Lawrence. Well Within Reach America’s: New Transportation Agenda. Miller Center of Public Affairs: Faulkner House. 2010.

Luxner, Larry. “Shipping firm sees potential gold mine in Florida-Cuba passenger ferry service.” Cuba News, 2009.

Pucher, John, and Lewis Dijkstra. Making Walking and Cycling Safer: Lessons from Europe. Transportation Quarterly , 52(1), 2000, 11-16

U.S. Government Accountability Office. Intercity Passenger Rail: National Policy and Strategies Needed to Maximize Public Benefits from Federal Expenditures. 2006. Web.

• How Transportation Shaped the City
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• Chinese Rail Services' Feasibility in Jamaica
• Different Types of Transportation
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• Renewable Energy and Transport Fuel Use Patterns
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• Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda. (2022, March 23). Transportation in the United States. https://ivypanda.com/essays/transportation-in-the-united-states/

"Transportation in the United States." IvyPanda , 23 Mar. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/transportation-in-the-united-states/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Transportation in the United States'. 23 March.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Transportation in the United States." March 23, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/transportation-in-the-united-states/.

1. IvyPanda . "Transportation in the United States." March 23, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/transportation-in-the-united-states/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Transportation in the United States." March 23, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/transportation-in-the-united-states/.

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Visions, paradigms, and anomalies of urban transport.

1. Introduction

2. automobility city, 2.1. the vision, 2.2. the paradigm.

• Extensive road networks from the city center to the rural areas, often with multiple lanes and multi-level road intersections that are well connected, allowing for easy access to various parts of the area.
• Large parking lots, including multi-level parking structures and dedicated parking zones, are strategically located near commercial areas, industrial zones, and public spaces.
• Wide streets and boulevards are prevalent, mainly auto-oriented and often neglecting the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users. The intersections are carefully designed with traffic signals, turning lanes, and other features to optimize traffic flow.
• The emphasis on automobiles may result in limited public transport infrastructure. While some bus routes or other modes of transit may exist, they might not be as extensive or well-developed as in other urban models.
• Commercial and business districts are often aligned along major road arteries, making them easily accessible by car. Shopping centers, malls, and office complexes may be strategically positioned for convenient automotive access.

2.3. Anomalies

3. multimodality city, 3.1. the vision, 3.2. the paradigm.

• The transport modes physically and operationally with mobility hubs;
• The information systems of service providers with real-time information to passengers on various modes regarding connectivity options, routes, schedules, and payment solutions, such as smart cards, to allow for seamless access and payment across different modes.

3.3. The Anomalies

4. accessible city, 4.1. the vision.

• improve mobility impacts with active transport;
• end car dependence in urban transport;
• create more livable public spaces;
• foster responsible lifestyles and economies;
• ensure the health and well-being of everyone;
• encourage community cohesion;
• avoid an obesogenic environment [ 57 ].

4.2. The Paradigm

• Plan Velo Act 2 aims to make Paris entirely bikeable by 2026, with an investment of 250 million euros. It includes adding 130 km of bike-safe pathways, teaching children to ride bikes in schools, and encouraging cycling tourism.
• Street Code is a new ‘code de la rue’ introduced to help cyclists, cars, and pedestrians share the roads. It includes rules such as respecting pedestrian priority, not encroaching on bus lanes or bike paths, and obeying traffic lights and signs.
• Low-traffic zones ban through traffic in four central districts to give priority to cyclists, pedestrians, and public transport, creating a less-polluted and safer city.

4.3. Anomalies

5. conclusions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

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Filippi, F. Visions, Paradigms, and Anomalies of Urban Transport. Future Transp. 2024 , 4 , 938-967. https://doi.org/10.3390/futuretransp4030045

Filippi F. Visions, Paradigms, and Anomalies of Urban Transport. Future Transportation . 2024; 4(3):938-967. https://doi.org/10.3390/futuretransp4030045

Filippi, Francesco. 2024. "Visions, Paradigms, and Anomalies of Urban Transport" Future Transportation 4, no. 3: 938-967. https://doi.org/10.3390/futuretransp4030045

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ACCOUNTANT 3

Dept of transportation.

• Closing at: Aug 25 2024 at 23:55 MST

Driving the future of transportation with a diverse and innovative team To learn more about the ADOT team CLICK HERE

(Final Voucher Accountant 3)

Address: 800 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007

Salary: $68,612.97 - $78,612.97 , anticipated salary: $73,612.97, closing date: 8/25/2024.

Recognize public and constituent issues and facilitate smooth interactions and identify actions to address issues. This position will assist the Final Voucher Supervisor in training staff, providing solutions and making recommendations for improvement on issues; will ensure projects and construction funding in compliance with federal and state regulations/statutes/policies, and be well versed in the project life-cycle throughout ADOT; examines contracts, change orders, intergovernmental agreements, and other contractual documents in addition to verifying authorizations and approvals; project costs, amounts billed, and reimbursement; as well as verifying accuracy payments to consultants, vendors, and local governments; verifies correct proration of federal and local matching billings for construction and engineering costs, and assessments of liquidated damages; responsible for preparing adjusting entries for costs and charges based on eligibility and funding sources; performs document research and final voucher preparation; streamline processes or procedures related to the project life-cycle. This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the department's business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

Responsible for reviewing, analyzing, reconciling adjustments and closing the agency's financial billing records; preparing final voucher for releasing unspent obligations of federal or state funds. Ensure that federal and state requirements relative to project and construction funding are met. Research and resolve discrepancies. Lead in the development of desk procedures and assist with the development of policies and procedures for the Final Voucher area. Assist in the streamlining processes or procedures related to the project lifecycle when applicable. Support in training staff, providing solutions and making recommendations for improvement on issues. Facilitate smooth interactions and identify actions to address issues, resolving questions and problems while involving appropriate ADOT groups and functions. Pre-audit project phases for Final Voucher project closing, serves as the technical advisors to projects related to AFIS. Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Knowledge: - Accounting System: Understand the complex project (Major Program), funding profile and budget table relationships. To assist in the analysis of complex accounting records to identify and correct errors. To conduct analysis to ensure costs are properly allocated. - Principles and practices of Auditing and Accounting: Ensure that project complies with GAAP standards. To understand the internal control structures and automated accounting systems. - Principles, concepts, practices methods & techniques of governmental accounting, internal control structures and fiscal management. critical thinking in resolving questions and problems presented by all customers. Skill: - Microsoft Excel - Good written and verbal communication - Analyze and interpret contract and financial data - Apply information contained in contracts to financial data - Apply Accounting and Auditing principles to project analysis - Strong analytical skill in researching and reviewing financial or technical data Ability: - Communicate with various levels of responsible individuals from FHWA and ADOT. - Assist project managers on resolving issues relating to projects and provide recommendations - Understand complex state and federal laws relations to projects - Collect, compile, analyze, and interpret financial data

Bachelor's degree with a major in accounting from a accredited college or university; OR a Bachelor's degree in a related field with a minimum of 24 semester hours of accounting courses and 1 year of governmental accounting experience.

This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job and the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The Arizona Department of Administration offers a comprehensive benefits package to include: • Sick leave • Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year • Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program). • Health and dental insurance • Retirement plan • Life insurance and long-term disability insurance • Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program  here . For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Mandatory participation in the Arizona Retirement System (ASRS) is required.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 712-8188. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation. ADOT is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. 

ARIZONA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (AMS)

All Arizona state employees operate within the Arizona Management System (AMS), an intentional, results-driven approach for doing the work of state government whereby every employee reflects on performance, reduces waste, and commits to continuous improvement with sustainable progress.  Through AMS, every state employee seeks to understand customer needs, identify problems, improve processes, and measure results.   State employees are highly engaged, collaborative and embrace a culture of public service.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements

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Essay on Public Transportation

Students are often asked to write an essay on Public Transportation in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Public Transportation

Introduction.

Public transportation refers to vehicles like buses and trains, used by the public to travel. It is a shared system, meaning it carries multiple passengers at once.

Public transportation is important because it helps decrease traffic congestion. It also reduces air pollution by lessening the number of cars on the road.

Using public transportation can save money as it’s cheaper than maintaining a car. It also promotes social interaction and provides mobility to those who can’t drive.

In conclusion, public transportation is beneficial for the environment, economy, and society. Therefore, we should consider using it more frequently.

250 Words Essay on Public Transportation

Role in urban mobility.

Public transportation plays a pivotal role in facilitating urban mobility. It reduces congestion by transporting a larger number of people in a single vehicle, compared to private cars. This efficiency aids in reducing travel time, enhancing productivity, and improving the overall quality of life for citizens.

Economic Impact

Public transportation is a significant economic driver. It creates job opportunities, both directly and indirectly, and stimulates local economies by enhancing accessibility to businesses. It also plays a crucial role in reducing the economic burden of transportation for individuals, particularly those from lower-income groups.

Environmental Implications

Public transportation contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint. It minimizes the number of vehicles on the road, leading to lower emissions and reduced energy consumption. It also aids in mitigating climate change by fostering a transition towards a low-carbon urban transport system.

Social Equity

Public transportation promotes social equity by providing affordable and accessible transportation options to all, irrespective of socio-economic status. It ensures that everyone can access essential services, job opportunities, and social activities, thereby reducing social exclusion.

In conclusion, public transportation is a cornerstone of sustainable urban development. It is instrumental in promoting economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity. Therefore, investing in public transportation is not just a matter of urban policy, but a key to achieving sustainable and inclusive cities.

500 Words Essay on Public Transportation

Public transportation is a critical aspect of a city’s infrastructure, playing a pivotal role in reducing traffic congestion, promoting sustainable urban development, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. Through its capability to transport large numbers of people efficiently and economically, public transit systems have the potential to reshape urban landscapes and foster social equity.

The Role of Public Transportation

Public transportation serves as the backbone of urban mobility, providing a sustainable alternative to private vehicle use. It mitigates the environmental impact of transport by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. Public transit systems like buses, trams, and metros are designed to accommodate large passenger volumes, thereby decreasing the number of vehicles on the road and reducing traffic congestion.

Moreover, public transportation fosters social inclusion. It provides access to employment, education, healthcare, and recreational activities for all segments of the population, including low-income groups, the elderly, and people with disabilities. By offering a reliable and affordable means of travel, public transportation can bridge socio-economic disparities and facilitate social cohesion.

Challenges in Public Transportation

Funding issues are another significant hurdle. Public transportation is often heavily subsidized, relying on government funding to maintain operations. However, budget constraints can limit the capacity for system improvements and expansions.

Lastly, a lack of integrated planning can lead to inefficient transit systems. To maximize efficiency and user convenience, public transportation should be coordinated with other urban services such as housing, land use, and pedestrian infrastructure.

The Future of Public Transportation

Furthermore, the integration of public transportation with other modes of travel, such as bike-sharing and ride-hailing services, can create a seamless and flexible mobility network. This concept, known as Mobility as a Service (MaaS), represents a paradigm shift in urban transport, moving from vehicle ownership to shared mobility.

Sustainability is another key aspect of the future of public transportation. As cities strive to achieve carbon neutrality, electric buses, hydrogen-powered trains, and other forms of green public transit will play a crucial role in reducing transport-related emissions.

Public transportation is more than just a means of getting from one place to another. It is a tool for urban development, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Despite the challenges it faces, with proper planning, sufficient funding, and the integration of advanced technologies, public transportation can continue to serve as a vital component of urban life, shaping our cities for the better.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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News Release: Rep. Pham, Commissioner Mapps and community partners join PBOT to celebrate start of 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance Project construction 

(August 22, 2024) State, city and community leaders joined the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to celebrate the groundbreaking of the 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance project today, bringing improvements to a 2.5-mile stretch of 82nd Avenue, one of the most dangerous streets in the city. 

Construction on PBOT's  82nd Avenue Major Maintenance started recently and will continue to ramp up through the winter, as part of the bureau's multi-year  Building a Better 82nd program. In the coming weeks, the public can expect to see periodic lane closures for underground utility work along 82nd Avenue and on side streets in the area. This fall, construction of ADA corner ramps, sidewalks and driveways will begin.

Safety improvements are focused on some of the major community destinations in the corridor, including McDaniel High School and the Jade District. 

Over 10 years (2012-2021), there were 14 traffic deaths and 122 people seriously injured in crashes on 82nd Avenue south of Lombard Street within the City of Portland. Preliminary estimates for 2022 to 2023 include four more traffic deaths on this city-designated high crash corridor.

In the 10-year period, more than 90% of traffic deaths were people walking or biking, or people in cars turning left at locations without signals. Two-thirds of all serious injuries were pedestrians or bicyclists, or people in cars turning left or crossing at locations without signals.  

Maintenance upgrades include new pavement, from curb to curb at the NE Fremont intersection, from NE Siskiyou to Schuyler streets, from SE Mill to Franklin streets and SE Schiller Street to Foster Road. Some sections of roadway will be completely rebuilt, from the ground up. The project will also build new or improved traffic signals or pedestrian crossings at seven intersections and widen or repair over 10,000 linear feet of sidewalk.

The project will improve access to TriMet's Line 72, the most-used bus route in Oregon. 

At $55 million, The Major Maintenance Project is the largest of more than a half dozen projects PBOT will build on the corridor through 2026. This project is a key piece of the $185 million overhaul of 82nd Avenue that the legislature approved in 2021, with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Oregon Department of Transportation, and the Portland Clean Energy Fund. The funding was an essential part of the agreement to transfer the road to PBOT control in 2022. 

Keep up with construction

Sign up for pbot’s biweekly 82nd avenue email updates at portland.gov/82nd-mm ..

Meet the Construction Team     

Meet the construction team for the 82nd Avenue Major Maintenance project! Drop in, learn about upcoming improvements and ask questions about the construction schedule and what to expect during construction.   

CORE Food Carts (3612 SE 82nd Ave Portland, OR 97266)   Wednesday, August 28th, 9-10:30 a.m.   Refreshments and coffee will be provided  More event details

Local advocates, state were key in bringing investments to 82nd Avenue

State Representative Khanh Pham represents Southeast and East Portland in the Oregon Legislature. Representative Pham worked tirelessly with community partners and constituents in 2021 to secure state funding for these improvements to 82nd Avenue. 

“My constituents have been begging for improvements to 82nd Avenue for decades, and I’m thrilled to attend this groundbreaking and celebrate these desperately needed investments in road maintenance and street safety,” said Representative Pham. “I hope today can inspire Oregon’s community leaders and policymakers to commit to enacting similar investments in street safety, transit, and road maintenance in next year’s statewide transportation package.” 

"Portlanders have been living with this high crash corridor for far too long," said PBOT Director Millicent Williams. "Thanks to federal, state and city funding, PBOT is now able to bring these critical safety and maintenance improvements to 82nd Avenue and the communities that surround it."

Major Maintenance Project is endorsed by 82nd Avenue Business Association

"This collection of projects breaking ground today will further our district's transformation into a walkable community hub that retains business access while making streets safer for those outside of cars," said 82nd Avenue Business Association President Jacob Loeb. 

"The 82nd Avenue Business Association endorses this infrastructure work because it supports our organization's vision for a prosperous and culturally rich community where people live, work, and play while recognizing that visitors will still drive to our businesses during the decades-long transformation."

Major Maintenance Project will bring much-needed benefits to communities of color 

"Raimore Construction is excited to be a partner on the 82nd Major Maintenance Project," said Jeff Moreland, Sr., Raimore Construction President and CEO. "The safety improvements on this hazardous corridor disproportionately affects communities of color, and considering this is one of the last major minority census tracks in the state, it is much needed."

"In partnership with the City, communities of color will also get much-needed economic benefit through living wage jobs, career opportunities and development, and small business capacity building," Moreland added. 

Major Maintenance Project brings safety and maintenance improvements

With the Major Maintenance project, PBOT will improve a 2.5-mile stretch of NE 82nd Avenue from Fremont Street to Schuyler Street, and SE 82nd Avenue from Mill Street to Foster Road.

Major Maintenance project improvements will: 

• Replace the pavement curb-to-curb in key areas, and rebuild the outer two travel lanes, from the ground up.
• Rebuild or replace traffic signals and update with modern signs and street markings.
• Provide safe and comfortable places for people to cross 82nd Avenue by installing pedestrian signals, bicycle signals (at neighborhood greenways), and median refuge islands.  
• Reduce the risk of serious injuries and fatalities for all people traveling by installing median islands and separators in areas with a high crash history.
• Improve accessibility by updating or replacing 140 ADA curb ramps for people using mobility. devices, wheelchairs, and strollers.
• Build or upgrade 10,000+ linear feet of sidewalk.
• Improve stormwater and drainage. 

Thanks to the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF), as part of this project, PBOT will plant more than 175 trees along 82nd Avenue, to mitigate the impact of extreme heat events.

We'll plant trees in the medians and sidewalks, which will make walking along 82nd Avenue more comfortable and cooler for people – and pets! 

With this investment, the City will begin to address the need for more tree canopy in East Portland. 

Major Maintenance Emblematic of the Public Works Model

In partnership with the Bureau of Environmental Services, PBOT will install new sumps and maintenance holes along the corridor as part of the project. This work will improve stormwater runoff and prevent sewer backups. 

"This is how we'll work in the future, as 'One City', Public Works Deputy City Administrator Priya Dhanapal said. "The 82nd Avenue project showcases our commitment to the partnering across City bureaus in addressing urgent infrastructure needs and setting a new standard for transformative change. I am excited about its positive impact and look forward to more successful collaborations that will make Portland safer and better."

Commissioner Mapps, who provided oversight over PBOT as well as the Bureau of Environmental Services and the Portland Water Bureau, said "fundamentally, this project will improve people’s lives."

"It’s about more than better pavement: this project will begin the transformation of the 82nd Avenue corridor and make it easier for Portlanders to get where they need to go safely, conveniently and sustainably. I’m proud of this work and am thrilled to be celebrating this today.”

Looking toward the future of 82nd Avenue  

"82nd Avenue has long been a road totally dedicated to vehicles,” said Zachary Lauritzen, Oregon Walks Executive Director and 82nd Avenue Coalition Manager. “We imagine a road that gives more space to people outside of cars, where there are more trees, parks, and housing along the road, and where it's safe enough for kids to walk to school and the park on their own." 

Share your thoughts about the future of 82nd Avenue

Share your thoughts about recommended policies, projects, and proposed improvements. Your insights are vital in shaping the Building a Better 82nd Plan that will be presented to the Portland City Council for adoption.

Visit the  Building a Better 82nd Online Open House and  take the survey by Sept. 15, 2024 .

See more details, block by block, at the overview map on the Major Maintenance project website .

What to expect during construction  .

In the coming weeks, the public can expect travel lane closures on 82nd Avenue and temporary closures of side streets near 82nd Avenue for underground utility work.

Typical work hours will be 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required for some project elements such as paving.

At least one travel lane in each direction and adjacent businesses on 82nd Avenue will remain open during construction, but the traveling public is advised to expect delays. The public can expect dust, noise, vibrations, and heavy equipment near the work zone. 

PBOT will provide periodic updates throughout construction. To sign up for construction updates, visit the project website .

Thank you for your cooperation and patience while we Build a Better 82nd.

Click here to download the construction schedule .

About Building a Better 82nd

Building a Better 82nd Avenue is a collection of safety and maintenance projects, policies, and programs to address urgent needs for 82nd Avenue. Construction of improvements will occur in different locations of the corridor from NE Lombard to SE Clatsop. In recognition of the need for critical safety improvements for 82nd Avenue, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) established the Building a Better 82nd Avenue Program in 2022, following the transfer of roadway ownership and management from the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to the City of Portland. 

Dylan Rivera

Pbot 82nd avenue project team.

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