PUBLIC TRANSIT KEYNOTE SPEAKER: TOMORROW’S TRANSPORTATION TRENDS TAKE SHAPE

Hop on and take a ride with public transit keynote speakers and transportation futurists and you’d get a mouthful about how the industry is evolving. Let’s take a closer look at just a few trending topics that are on the rise in recent months by way of the different types of transport options that presenters say are now available:

• Buses – Large passenger buses running on fixed routes and schedules. Top public transit keynote speakers say options can include standard, articulated, and double-decker buses.
• Light Rail – Above-ground rail systems with smaller train cars operating on dedicated right-of-way. Think streetcars, trams.
• Subways/Metro – Undergorund rail system in dedicated tunnels. High capacity, frequent service. Seen in major cities globally.
• Commuter Rail – Passenger rail services that public transit keynote speakers observe are connecting suburban areas to city centers. Longer distances than urban rail. We’re talking regional rail, suburban rail, etc.
• Paratransit – On-demand van or shuttle services for people with disabilities. Often door-to-door service requiring reservations.
• Monorail – Elevated rail that runs on a single track. Used in some urban areas and theme parks or so public transit keynote speakers tell us.
• Cable Car – Rail cars pulled by underground cables instead of locomotive. Still used in some hilly cities like San Francisco.
• Water Taxi/Ferries – Boat services that provide transport across bodies of water like rivers, bays, harbors.
• Aerial Tramway – Suspended cable cars used mainly public transit keynote speakers say as transit in mountainous areas with steep inclines.
• Intercity Coaches – Long distance bus services between major cities. Offer amenities like WiFi and power outlets.

Different transportation options provide a range of capacity, speed, accessibility and geographic coverage that public transit keynote speakers note is designed to meet diverse needs.