The Future Of Public Transportation: Trends of 2024

Let’s take a look together

Growing population, demands for more modern solutions in the public transit domain, advances in technology that facilitate the processes involved in the sector – all these and many more contribute to the explosive growth in the global public transit market forecast for the next few years. The Asia Pacific region, followed by Europe, are the trailblazers in the innovation and improvement of their infrastructures, led by a desire to provide better services and curb CO2 emissions in larger cities.

What will public transit look like in 2024? Let’s take a look!

Making the right investments

What comes first – the highway or the cars? It’s easy to believe that the necessity to invest in new infrastructure is there because of the large number of vehicles. But there is another way of looking at this problem: what if we built more pedestrian zones and expanded the public transit options for people to choose from?

As UK citizens already know, this is a viable road to take. After the construction of a new road in Glasgow, car ownership in the area jumped. At the same time, a new guided busway with a parallel pedestrian and cycle path were constructed in Cambridge, leading to a decrease in car usage.

This comes to show that infrastructure investments matter. While it’s not always possible to improve the public transit system without improving the infrastructure, it certainly shines a light on the direction we need to take.

The future of public transportation

By 2024, public transportation will be much more tech-led; that we know for sure. The smooth introduction of mobile ticketing and other smartphone-operated technologies to facilitate the daily commute, combined with the use of big data to optimise vehicle dispatch, routes and schedules, will all lead to a highly automated system. Smart traffic regulation will ensure the safe and efficient flow of vehicles, further making public transportation a better choice than cars.

What are the elements of strong technology-centered public transit systems?

The elements of strong technology-centred public transit systems illustrated

• Improved traffic infrastructure: smart traffic lights management, introduction of bus lanes, improvements in bus stop distribution

Traffic congestions can slow down buses – and there isn’t always the option to create a light rail system. Smart traffic lights are a great way to control and optimise city traffic without having to expand the capacity of  infrastructure. The implementation of smart traffic management systems is already underway in many European cities, thus providing a better background for improvements in the public transportation system.

Bus lanes can further speed up public transit – and in doing so, convert car users who value their time to public transit users. Bus lanes can also improve efficiency in terms of costs and schedule optimisation.

Finally, the introduction of strategically positioned new bus stops can make the whole public transit system more convenient. Placing interactive panes that help passengers plan their trip better, as well as ticket vending machines to facilitate their travel, can also play a part in recognising public transportation as a modern and user-friendly way to travel across the city.

• Deployment of account-based ticketing with a strong accent on mobile ticketing options

Mobile ticketing is not a new technology – it’s been around for quite some time and has yet to be fully adopted to fulfil its potential. The COVID-19 pandemic proved to be a catalyst for this process, as more and more cities are exploring  opportunities to make public transit as contactless as possible.

Account-based systems can add up to the value a passenger gets from public transport, but they can also boost the whole system’s efficiency. Collecting aggregated information can help city management make data-driven decisions that will reduce expenses, improve fare collection ratios and ultimately – make public transit an inseparable part of the city’s traffic ecosystem.

• Multimodal solutions to complement public transit (bikes / scooters rental, ride-share, taxis, parking)

Micro-mobility, if integrated within the public transit system, has the potential to solve two issues at the same time.

First, it can help solve the first mile/last mile problems for cities that don’t have a fully-fledged transit system (or one that doesn’t have the potential to offer full coverage). By providing the much needed means of transportation between public transit vehicles and the final destination of passengers, traffic can be reduced, parking spaces in the central areas of cities can be spared, and air pollution will be diminished.

Second, it may turn into a whole new system of transportation that substitutes public transit and cars altogether in certain areas. For this to happen, multi-modal solutions should be supported by an infrastructure that facilitates their use. Separate bike / scooter lanes, as well as a ride-sharing and taxi platforms integrated within the public transit platform so passengers can plan  their entire journey within one app, paying combined fares and saving money. If this infrastructure is good enough, it may prove to be a better solution for mid-range distances then buses or even the subway.

Multi-modality is an innovative way to work with what you already have to create an interlinked system of solutions. An app connecting all these modes of transportation can help passengers decide on the best route and mode for each trip – and get a better price each time.

With a forecast of 8.11% annual growth rate for the period, public transit is becoming one of the most important parts of urban development. The shift towards digital solutions will most probably be accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, putting more pressure on transit agencies to move forward with upgrading their legacy systems. One thing is for sure – the future of public transportation is bright and full of innovation.

Telelink City can partner with global and local institutions to efficiently integrate this innovation in your city.

Contact us:

Website: telelink-city.com

E-mail: telelink-city@telelink.com

This article was originally published on:  https://telelink-city.com/future-public-transportation-trends-2024/