首页
登录
职称英语
Since about 1950, public transportation in the U.S. has had to struggle to su
Since about 1950, public transportation in the U.S. has had to struggle to su
游客
2023-12-19
71
管理
问题
Since about 1950, public transportation in the U.S. has had to struggle to survive. The growth of private automobile ownership, the change in cities with accelerated urban sprawl, and the immense highway construction program have added to transit problems. Moreover, changes in life-style have contributed to reduced transit use, which has resulted in lower revenues from fares at a time when costs for operations have increased greatly.
As private transit systems were taken over by local government and the cost of operations continued to increase, pressure was exerted for federal participation in urban public transportation. The 1964 Urban Mass Transportation Act established this commitment. The legislation limited federal assistance to 80 percent of the capital expenditure for buses, rail cars, and fixed facilities. In 1974 the federal government added operating assistance to its program. Because passenger fares account for only about one-third of the average system’ s operating funds, demand for federal subsidies escalated rapidly. In the early 1980s a change in federal transportation policy resulted in relaxation of the rigid standards governing the way federal aid is used, imposing requirements for private sector participation and increased state, regional, and local funding. By the end of the 1980s state and local operating assistance amounted to about 2 percent of the funds needed to operate U.S. transit systems; fare box and other revenues accounted for 43 percent, and federal assistance, 5 percent.
Private sector initiatives in public transportation include transit services provided by private operators under competitively bid contracts, and innovative public-private projects such as a joint development of transit stations.
It is estimated that 8 million people in the U.S. (5 percent of the urban population) have physical handicaps that prevent them from using conventional transportation services. With the aging of the population, more than one-fifth of the people living in the U.S. will be over 65 in the year 2030. Many of the people in these groups are dependent on public transportation. In 1990 Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, which will virtually require all transit services to be accessible to the disabled.
In the short run, existing transit modes will be improved. Cities with such systems will extend their lines, while others will plan and construct new ones, including rapid transit, buses, and light rail transit. The lower- cost alternatives will have a better chance of adoption. There is also a strong interest in commuter rail. Part of the appeal of this mode of transportation is that many cities have unused and underused rail corridors that can provide rights-of-way at low cost.
Because of major environmental concerns, electric trolley buses and methanol-powered and other alter- native fuel-powered buses will replace diesel engine buses.
An enormous range of new technology exists in the area of intelligent vehicle systems. For example, a commuter will be able to get real-time information on home computers as to when the next bus will arrive at the nearest bus stop. Information for trip planning will be available as well. Transit agencies will use advanced technologies for traffic and fleet management of their vehicles. Vehicle control systems that will guide buses along prescribed corridors and routes are being researched to reduce vehicle delay, increase capacity, and improve safety.
Automation through new technology can provide a means for reducing labor while providing performance and safety. A number of automated guideway transit systems operate in airports, shopping centers, college campuses, and amusement parks. Their applicability to a more diverse use is continually evaluated. Research is under way on magnetically levitated and air-supported vehicles. Directional control, spacing, switching, and lateral control are among the many problems needing more development before such systems can be widely accepted. Other developments include the moving walkway, designed mainly for short distance, which will accelerate a pedestrian from three to five times walking speed.
Unique structural systems have been designed to support advanced transit concepts. Suspended mono- rails are examples of lower-cost systems under development. [br] What does the author want to tell us in Para. 4 to Para. 9?
选项
A、New technology used in public transportation.
B、The future trends in public transportation.
C、The automation through new technology.
D、Advanced transit concepts.
答案
B
解析
在这几段中,集中讨论了公共交通在未来的发展趋势。故选B。
转载请注明原文地址:https://tihaiku.com/zcyy/3285779.html
相关试题推荐
Sinceabout1950,publictransportationintheU.S.hashadtostruggletos
Sinceabout1950,publictransportationintheU.S.hashadtostruggletos
ModesofTransportation Thereareavarietyofmeansfortran
ModesofTransportation Thereareavarietyofmeansfortran
ModesofTransportation Thereareavarietyofmeansfortran
ModesofTransportation Thereareavarietyofmeansfortran
1 Whilethemissionofpublicschoolshasexpandedbeyondeducationtoinclude
1 Whilethemissionofpublicschoolshasexpandedbeyondeducationtoinclude
1 Whilethemissionofpublicschoolshasexpandedbeyondeducationtoinclude
WhicheventisaturningpointintheAmericanblack’sstruggleforequality?A、T
随机试题
Whatwillthewomandoaboutthedress?[br][originaltext]W:Oh,whatapretty
Herhumorousremarksseemed________,butwereinfactcarefullypreparedbeforeh
专利信息追踪检索中,常用的追踪信息有()A.发明人和申请人信息 B.文献信
关于水泥标准稠度用水量、凝结时间、安定性检验方法,请回答以下问题:(5)关于水泥
金鹰市政建设公司中标承建某市高架路工程。该公司副经理出任项目经理并组建了项目机构
优抚安置社会工作中的()是最深入的社会工作治疗的一种。A.军休干部医院社会工作
下列关于我国企业承担社会责任的说法,正确的有()。A.企业承担社会责任与发展市
下列有关信用证的业务特点说法正确的是()。 A.信用证是一种无条件的银行支付承
中国银保监会近年来启动了银行业保险业清廉金融文化建设活动,旨在通过()增强金融从
投资项目决策分析与评价的基本要求包括贯彻落实科学发展观、资料数据准确可靠和()
最新回复
(
0
)