Summary

Motor vehicle traffic is expected to increase to over 475 billion miles traveled in 2010; so smart growth policy strategies are needed to improve congestion, and vehicle emissions. One strategy is to create high-density communities with alternatives to one-person passenger vehicles, or transit oriented development (TOD). Technological innovations (e.g. shared-use systems and smart parking) and the integration of new energy technologies can improve TOD, but one major obstacle to TOD is facilitating the necessary seamless multi-modal infrastructure.

This project capitalizes on such an infrastructure at the Pleasant Hill Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Station, which was designed to enhance transportation in a suburban TOD. The site is being redeveloped over the next three to four years to create commercial and retail opportunities for the TOD, Caltrans has started implementing EasyConnect, a low-speed mode project, and two major car companies have donated hydrogen vehicles, interoperable smart cards, and power generation technologies for research. Developments at the Rockridge BART Station, including in-ground sensors that provide real-time parking availability and reservation information via changeable message signs and the Internet, are also being considered for the Pleasant Hill BART Station.

The objective of this project is to evaluate the integration of these available innovations into the existing EasyConnect system by looking at "eLockers," lockers for reservation for low-speed mode rentals (i.e. electric bikes and Segway human transporters) and personal bikes, and a smart parking service. A field test would be conducted and include other innovations such as car-sharing (i.e. short-term auto rentals), hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, real-time transit information, and stationary fuel cell technology.

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