Summary

Background
Fixed-route, fixed-schedule (FRFS) mass-transit systems are obsolete for a variety of reasons including the following: they serve only that fraction of the traveling public which are on the fixed route and can travel according to the fixed schedules; because their markets are limited, the fares FRFS operators are able to collect rarely support their operations; and travelers normally have limited options for privacy.
Variable-route, variable-schedule (VRVS) mass transit, promoted on this website, addresses the shortcomings of FRFS transit. For example, current freeways offer commuters accessibility and convenience.  Presented on this website as an approach to modernize freeways, Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) Systems will offer improved safety, efficiency, and security as well as sustainability and accessibility. A system-engineering approach to develop CAV Systems would comprise
  1. New CAV Roadways (CAVWAYs), whose access is limited to certified CAVs
  2. A bounded, consistent set of functional requirements which CAVs must meet to be certified
  3. Rigorous requirements which CAV Systems must meet to become credible candidates for VRVS mass transit.
  4. Region-specific requirements on CAVWAYs, imposed by public-sector agencies, to address abnormal conditions and to return them to normal quickly and safely
The system-engineering process features a Software Prototype (CSIM), an object-oriented, discrete-event simulation to characterize the system, document and test designs, and validate concepts.
Most components and functions described on this website have been characterized and verified under CSIM. Some have been deferred to critical experiments, needed to verify operations requiring specialized hardware and software.

CAV-System-enabled mass transit will offer these advantages:
  • Safe travel where, when, and with whom one chooses;
  • Continuous traffic flow at constant speeds and (inter-CAV) spacing;
  • Cost-effective re-use of freeways, highways, and right-of-way;
  • Controlled access and congestion pricing;
  • A bounded set of CAV requirements;
  • Locally-tailored sets of CAVWAY requirements;
  • Secure, private communication networks and redundant controls;
  • Reliable navigation and CAVs controlling their own operation;
  • Extensible CAVWAYs to meet first-mile, last-mile challenges; and,
  • Virtual lanes to enable rapid reconfiguration.

Notes

Without public/private cooperation, CAV-Systems cannot be implemented.
A bounded set of functional requirements will allow industry to build, innovate, and improve CAVs against stable standards.
Local CAVWAY responsibility for anticipating, preventing, and mitigating abnormal conditions will encourage state agencies to address and continually improve responses to specific geographic, legal, demographic, and jurisdictional issues.
Confidence in the logic of CAV Systems and faith in the wisdom of Davius (Roman god of transportation) acquired through the ages, will sustain us.
Recent history
Most of the research and development in Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) has focused on making CAVs operational in existing traffic environments, designed for and dominated by vehicles with human drivers. This site explores the opportunity and challenges of constructing roadways expressly for CAVs (CAVWAYs) and then combining CAVWAYs and CAVs into CAV Systems.