Many North American urban dwellers find lakeshore cottaging to be an attractive activity. On a typical summer weekend in most North American cities large numbers of cottagers make automobile trips ranging in length from only a few miles to several hundred miles in order to reach their cottages. Many cottagers from the Greater Vancouver area travel greater distances to reach their cottages than do cottagers from other large cities. A large portion of these distant cottage areas were developed in the nineteen sixties and early seventies when personal transportation was very inexpensive. The mid nineteen seventies have been the scene of substantial increases in energy costs with subsequent rises in the cost of transportation. When the possibility of further energy price increases is considered it appears that there is a distinct possibility of these distant cottages experiencing a drastic decline in use. This would have a number of implications for planners in British Columbia with one of the most important being the increase in demand for cottaging (or similar activities) close to Vancouver. In order to determine the magnitude of the response of cottagers to transportation cost increases questionnaires were mailed to four different groups of cottagers who resided in Greater Vancouver. Three of these groups consisted of cottagers who owned cottages on the British Columbia mainland at varying distances from Vancouver (the cottages of the first group were located about seventy miles from Vancouver while the third group's cottages were located about 330 miles from Vancouver). The fourth group consisted of Vancouver cottagers who owned cottages on Vancouver Island. The data collected measured responses to recent gasoline price increases, responses to ferry fare increases, and cottagers' anticipated responses to future gasoline price increases. It was found that cottagers had responded to both the ferry fare increases and gasoline price increases with reductions in the use of their cottage. The data was also used to estimate the effect of future gasoline price increases on cottage use. The study reveals that the costs of reaching distant cottages is presently at a level such that further increases could severely curtail the use of these cottages. These findings can be considered in conjunction with estimated future trends for energy prices to determine the magnitude of the effect of transportation costs on cottaging at a given time. This result could then be used to plan for alternative opportunities closer to Vancouver. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

Transportation facilities and services provide the cornerstones to the rescue and response operations after a big earthquake. This study appraises the transportation actions taken by the authorities in the immediate aftermath of the Loma Prieta Earthquake of October 17, 1989. The failure of several transportation structures had a significant impact on rescue operations, traffic congestion and change in travel patterns in the San Francisco Bay Area. Emphasis is placed on travel demand management strategies adopted to meet the travel needs in the Bay Area and to return traffic to normalcy. The short-term and long-term impacts of closures of certain highways due to a 7.5 magnitude earthquake are also addressed in this research. Recent predictions by the United States Geological Survey show that there is a 67 percent chance of a big earthquake of 7.5 magnitude happening in the Bay Area before the year 2020. Therefore, there is a dire need to look at the transportation problems that the Bay Area might face if the "Big One" really hits. It is also important to note that certain bridges play a major role in the cross-bay transportation. Hence, the failure of such critical links would greatly influence the mobility of the citizens in the region. A macro-level measure referred to as "Weighted Roadway Congestion index" (RCIW) is developed to assess the severity of the closures of these links. To fulfill this objective, scenario analysis is performed for the expected closures in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is important to note that the macro-level measure developed is applicable only to urban areas. This research also aims at identifying the key network parameters, such as number of lane-miles per freeway exit and freeway network connectivity that impact roadway congestion after earthquakes. / Master of Science

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1965 J96 / Master of Science

This paper is designed to assist communities with the successful introduction, integration and support of electric vehicles. It provides an introductory look at electric vehicle technology and its application within the community, and should act as a springboard for further investigation and plan development for interested communities. This paper outlines the basic history of electric vehicle technology, the recent forces which have prompted increased research and development, and the leading causes for this evolution in personal transportation. The core of the document describes the steps a community will need to take in order to successfully develop a local electric vehicle program. Initial steps include developing community goals, understanding the community and its transportation environment, and creating an organizational structure to successfully develop a local Electric Vehicle Action Plan. The organizational structure provided is divided into three basic elements; Policy, Infrastructure, and Public Awareness. The analysis of each element includes the identification and discussion of the critical issues, a description of the key participants who should be involved, and recommended methodology for initiating and supporting local electric vehicle commercialization. Furthermore, each element includes a short analysis of three separate market niches that are ripe for early electric vehicle introduction. These applications can be used by the community to develop a local electric vehicle demonstration program and establish a foundation on which to build an electric vehicle community. This paper, if used to its potential, can help communities develop a program which will successfully introduce and integrate electric vehicles into the local transportation mix and bring America a little closer to a sustainable transportation system. / Department of Urban Planning

M.Comm. / The modern business environment is characterised by a new focus on strategies towards competitiveness and customer service. This includes efficient and effective logistical systems to support just-in-time, shorter production run strategies of customers. Furthermore, the outsourcing of non-core functions to third party service providers, is an increasing tendency. Transport providers are strategically positioned within logistical processes to provide value-adding services. Historically, the transport industry was a highly regulated arena which changed to a competitive deregulated industry. PROBLEM STATEMENT: With the deregulation of the transport industry, rail transport lost market share in the total land freight market. Other than deregulation, the following: In contrast with road, rail is responsible for the accomplishment of transport infrastructure and the maintenance thereof; the differences in the competitive traits of rail and road; and the increasing nature of change within the dynamic marketplace itself. After 200 years, the rail transport mode is confronted with the challenge of relevancy in the twenty first century. The main objective of the study is founded on systematic literary research of land transport within the RSA. The focus is on the role logistics plays in obtaining competitive advantage from a rail perspective. In order to achieve this, the following were investigated: the economics of transport; an evaluation of the competitiveness of the RSA road and rail industry; logistics as an approach to add value and differentiate the transport product; and suitable strategies specifically for rail in support of value adding and competitiveness. FINDINGS: The study finds that logistics can create competitive advantage for rail transport with an unique marketing orientation. This can be maximised by differentiating the rail transport product alignment with market share in the different segments and positioning in the product life cycle. The manufacturing higher value segment represents the biggest growth opportunity in market share. Innovation and quality improvements are prerequisites within rail, whilst selective divestiture strategies on non-profitable business must be considered. The requirement is to provide logistical services within the total supply chain which add value to customers products. Rail transport must therefore find a balance between cost leadership and differentiating strategies. Rail transport in the RSA is aware of the importance to provide logistical value in the freight market. However, it was found that the transformation to make logistics an integrated part of its business is lacking. In contrast, road transport rapidly developed the provision of complete logistical solutions in the freight market. Lastly, it was found that the outsourcing of logistics is a world trend, especially in respect of the USA and Europe.

Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Li Xiang. / "September 2004." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 164-172) / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

This thesis presents two models to determine technological change and cost inefficiency in the regulated U.S. Motor Carrier Industry following regulatory reform. Data from the LTL sector of the industry from 1976 to 1987 are used in this study. Results provide insights about the observed increase in industry concentration and the effects of regulatory reform. In chapter II, a translog cost function model is used to examine the impact of deregulation and technological bias. We show that technological change has been labor saving and purchased capital using, and that these input biases were induced by changes in output level. The increase of capital cost share and the decrease of fuel cost share are attributed to deregulation. Overtime, the LTL sector of the motor carrier industry has become more capital intensive resulting in even higher entry barriers. Deregulation has had a negative impact on technological change and led to higher industry costs. In chapter III, a stochastic cost frontier model is used to examine cost inefficiency. Results suggest that cost inefficiency accounts for 12.61% of the industry's total cost and the average level of inefficiency has not significantly changed over time. The mean estimates of firm-specific inefficiencies range between 5.5% and 29.6% for the period 1976-1987. Based on the estimated firm-specific inefficiencies, Tobit regression models are constructed to examine variations of inefficiency among firms in different ICC regions and to identify factors contributing to overall inefficiency. The main factors contributing to inefficiency are output, percent of LTL shipments, and input ratios; in particular, large firms appears to operate more efficiently than small firms. We also show that, although large firms have a slower rate of technological advancement than small firms, economies of scale exist and are increasing over time. Therefore, the rise in industry concentration could be justified from the standpoint of scale economies and efficiency gain. Finally, deregulation has had no impact on the overall level of inefficiency. / Graduation date: 1999

No description available.

This study is a critical policy analysis of some of the policy issues facing the Department of Transport, and some of the implementation challenges experienced. The policy analysis concludes that one cannot assess whether or not the Department of Transport's policies: and programmes are successfully implemented, because they have not considered or designed measures of evaluation or impact of any of their policies. Some of the policy issues and problems facing the Department of Transport still exist despite the various policy proposals, strategies or programs which they have designed and implemented. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2004.