PUBLIC-TRANSIT RESEARCH-AND-DEVELOPMENT IN GERMANY

This paper provides an overview of the situation of public transit in the Federal Republic of Germany as well as its integration into consid erations of transportation policy. It is the goal of transportation po licy to effect a shift of parts of urban automobile traffic to public transit. Beyond restrictions on private vehicle travel this requires a n improvement of the service quality of public transit. Research and d evelopment in public transit serve this goal. The emphasis of research is in the following areas: organization of public transit, expansion of fixed-guideway transit systems in major cities, use of demand-respo nsive operation modes with low travel demand, improvement of transit n etwork and schedule structure, acceleration and stabilization of trans it vehicle progression, improvement of comfort levels for access and t ransport, differentiation of fares and simplification of fare structur e, improvement of passenger information and assistance and rationaliza tion of service provision.