DRAFT

Washington State Public Transportation Plan
Chapter Three: Goals and Action Strategies
GOAL 3 ADAPTIVE
TRANSPORTATION CAPACITY
Use new technologies and partnerships to make better use of existing transportation
assets and meet changing customer needs
Throughout Washington state, the demand for public transportation services has intensified
with population growth, while traditional funding has become increasingly scarce. New
technology continues to produce culture shifts throughout our society. New markets emerge
and existing markets change, while community visions evolve. Customer preferences,
combined with a technology-powered boom in public and private transportation service
concepts, are making it possible to use the transportation system in new ways. There
are more tools available than ever before to improve the quality and efficiency of public
transportation in Washington.
Adaptive transportation capacity is defined as the range of strategies that can be used
to help Washington’s transportation system become more efficient, flexible, adaptable,
and customer oriented. Adaptive transportation capacity strategies leverage the value and
benefits of public transportation assets that are already in place to respond to changing
market realities. These strategies would change as market or physical conditions change.
From the perspective of the individual, adaptive transportation capacity has expanded
many travelers’ transportation options and provided the information they need to use those
options. For example, online applications increasingly provide real-time information about
traffic, transit and other transportation services that help travelers compare convenience,
costs and travel times. New technology and business models enable travelers to share
vehicles and facilities, from cars to bicycles to parking. Upgraded ride matching systems are
supporting the formation of carpools, vanpools and walking groups at schools.
New developments in digital technology such as real-time rideshare, mobility
management, and fare payment systems are promising options for both urban and rural
travelers. For example, King County Metro is testing the use of real-time seat reservations to
fill vanpools connecting far-flung suburbs to job centers. Chicago is rolling out a mobile app
for a regional transit fare for all modes provided by the three transit agencies operating in
the region. The new app also allows users to load money and passes onto their smartphones,
check their balances, view their riding histories, plan transit trips, and receive next-bus and
next-train arrival and departure information.
WSDOT | DRAFT October 2015 | WaTransPlan.com
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