The economic use of subsidies for urban mass transportation

The energy crisis and various urban problems stemming from auto congestion, pollution, and the cost of providing public highways have created enormous interest in revitalizing our urban mass transit systems. Currently much is being said and written regarding the efficacy of granting federal, state and/or local operating subsidies. In this article, the author reviews the transit industry's peak capacity problem, and questions the economic wisdom of providing operating subsidies, as some are now being provided, and how most will probably be administered in the near future. An alternative plan suggests the manner in which subsidies can eventually help the transit industry. The article concludes with an analysis of what research efforts are needed in many urban transit systems and how subsidies can be used to support such research.     

Shipping control and the changing use of marine space

In this paper Professor Couper discusses the divisions of marine space as set out in the Revised Single Negotiating Text of UNCLOS III in relation to maritime accidents. This is followed by a contribution by Mr Burger on statistical material related to the incidence of marine accidents in North-West European waters. The third section of the paper by Captain S. Abdelgalil, is devoted to a technical discussion on traffic lanes in confined waters.     

Maritime language: quest for simplicity

This brief paper examines some of the problems of interpretation of documents and procedures given in English faced by non-English seafarers, and suggests the use of 'controlled' English to simplify these problems.

' Speak English ', said the Eaglet, ' I don't know the meaning of half those long words, and what's more, I don't believe you do either. '

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Lewis Carroll     

Competition among selected eastern Canadian ports for foreign cargoes

This paper examines the competitiveness of selected eastern Canadian ports for the handling of foreign cargoes in terms of macroeconomic and geographic factors.     

Techniques of land use/transportation planning in Australian cities

With the publication of the Sydney Area Transportation Study, land-use/transportation studies now have been conducted in all capital cities as well as in the majority of other urban areas with populations in excess of 40.000. A review of these studies is made and a qualitative assessment is attempted of the technical phases —land-use planning, trip-generation, trip-distribution, modal-split, traffic assignment and evaluation. Full summary results of this comparative survey are presented in tabular form, although themes developed in the text are illustrated with specific examples from individual studies. The methodology of land-use/transportation studies has been attacked by some Australian writers. An attempt is made to assess the relevance of these criticisms when applied to the practical planning process in Australia.     

Non-Contact Suspension and Propulsion Technology

As a result of extensive research and development in several countries, the technologies of magnetic suspension and linear electric drives are becoming available for transportation applications. The successful demonstration and operation of prototype vehicles has established the technical viability of these systems. Several urban transit or shuttle services, with magnetic suspension and/or linear motor propulsion are likely to be operational within 3-4 years. After the final stages ofdevelopment and rigorous testing, high speed systems are likely to be an option for intercity implementation by the end of the decade. This paper presents a report on the worldwide status of R&D and test programs of non-contact suspension and propulsion technology for guided ground transport.