Smart ParaTransit

Mark Gorton (2008) concept for a Real Time AutoMobile/Van/Taxi/Car Pool/Ride Sharing Market/dispatching system. New form of Mass Transit?

• The physical transport component is a large fleet of dynamically routed vehicles: small vans, large vans, small buses, and large buses. As opposed to typical mass transit today, these vehicles would not run on predetermined routes. Instead, a central computer collects information about requested trips, figures out how best to group passengers, and dynamically dispatches vehicles to service the required trips. (not about serving the disabled)
• Paratransit is the term used in North America, also known by other names such as community transport (UK), for transportation services that supplement fixed-route mass transit by providing individualized rides (on-demand) without fixed routes or timetables... The more general meaning includes any transit service operating alongside conventional fixed-route services, including airport limousines and carpools.[2] Since the early 1980s, particularly in North America, the term began to be used increasingly to describe the second meaning: special transport services for people with disabilities. In this respect, paratransit has become a subsector and business in its own right. The term paratransit is rarely used outside of North America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paratransit

He might have TOPP develop Open Source software for the system.

Some people note similarity of GoLoco.

Eric Britton has a related idea.

key concepts

• Market/dispatching system to support AdHoc Ride Sharing
  • Commercial Van: regular fee-based
  • regular car-owners: Cost Sharing
• incentives to encourage this use: HOV benefits toward
  • Congestion Pricing
  • bridge/tunnel access
  • Dynamic Street Parking Pricing