Transportation researchers at the University of California, US, have launched a transit study to ease traffic congestion and reduce traveller stress.
The field test is being conducted along the US 101 corridor between San Jose and San Francisco in the Bay Area, and offers a comparison of real-time traffic, bus and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) information for custom-selected routes.
The study will determine whether commuters will use transit more often if they have accessible and current information about parking and traffic options before they start their journeys.
The technology allows travellers to select the best commute option based on personalised priorities of cost-efficiency, time-efficiency or a low-carbon footprint.
The pilot, Networked Traveler, was launched on 31 August with an invitation for the public to use the free online trip planner or download the mobile phone application PATH2Go.
The project is being sponsored by Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission San Mateo County Transit District, VTA, NAVTEQ, ParkingCarma and SpeedInfo.
