Current Research Projects
Advanced Small Transit Vehicle (ASTV)
Rural bus services are generally provided by traditional minibuses which hold 8-25 passengers, are less than 30 feet in length, and are powered by internal combustion engines (ICE). Some services follow preplanned fixed routes and schedules similar to urban providers while many provide only demand-responsive service to their local communities. The objective of this project is the development of a new transit vehicle to meet the needs of rural transit operators and riders. A transit vehicle designed to meet the specific needs of rural transit systems could lead to gained efficiencies by transit providers because of increased reliability and greater fuel economy. At the same time, such a vehicle could offer riders greater comfort with improved ride quality and greater vehicle maneuverability. Quotes from The Transit LaneBuilding a Better Bus"SURTC has been working with the Federal Transit Administration to bring together bus manufacturers, bus equipment manufacturers, transit agencies, paratransit agencies and others to design a better small bus." FTA and SURTC Examine Small Transit Vehicle Technology"Intelligent transportation systems (ITS), including automatic vehicle location (AVL), stop announcements and electronic fare collection are now readily available technologies. Increased accessibility through low-floor vehicles and alternative fuels are commonly found in buses across the country. While many of these technologies could greatly improve the service and operations of small urban and rural transit agencies, they have yet to be widely adopted by small transit vehicle manufacturers." Page Updated: Jul. 27, 2007
For more information, contact Del Peterson by e-mail del.peterson@ndsu.edu or call (701)231-6436. |
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