Author(s)

A. G. L. Peixoto Neto, O. F. Lima Jr. & D. Tacla

Abstract

When people think about transportation improvements they often envision new modes of travel: canals, steamships, railroads, automobiles and air travel. What comes next? Rockets? Lighter-than-air ships? Teleporters? Perhaps these may become more common in the future. But they will not necessarily solve existing transportation problems such as urban traffic congestion, parking costs or traffic crashes. The next major breakthrough to improve transport system quality may simply consist of management strategies that result in more efficient use of existing transport resources. When all impacts are considered, such strategies are often the best solution to transportation problems. This paper first studies the definition and connotation of transportation efficiency and quality. From the viewpoint of different groups participating in urban transportation systems, different system functions and targets required by each group are analysed. Then the corresponding system targets and evaluation rules required by the administrator are studied. Finally we discuss different methods used to measure urban transportation, the different perspectives they represent, and how the selection of one or another method tends to affect transportation and land use planning decisions. Keywords: urban transportation efficiency, urban transportation quality, urban transportation system, and performance evaluation. 1 Definitions 1.1 General considerations of urban transportation With the spread of industrialism and the growing size of cities, it is no longer possible for many city dwellers to live within walking distance of work. Urban transportation has become increasingly important as our cities continue to grow.

Keywords

urban transportation efficiency, urban transportation quality, urban transportation system, and performance evaluation.