Future of Public Transportation: Urban Air Mobility Using EVTOL Technology (Emerging Leaders Program)

The popularity of Transportation Network Companies (TNC) over the last decade was a disruption that had a profound effect on public transportation. The convenience of using these TNCs led to a decrease in ridership for public transit agencies. TNCs were promoted as a solution to traffic but resulted as a significant contributor to roadway congestion. Traffic congestion is increasing at an alarming rate in urban communities and efforts to reduce this congestion have not yielded any significant results.

A future public transportation and congestion solution lies in elevating mobility to the third dimension, the sky, using Urban Air Mobility (UAM). This new and innovative technology, already advanced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is in development by companies worldwide and currently progressing through the certification process to ensure safety for public adoption and acceptance.

In this elevated mobility space, Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing Vehicles (eVTOLs) can be designed to accommodate up to eight passengers (similar to helicopters), but are substantially quieter and more energy efficient, with reduced or zero emissions. This technology will revolutionize travel in the future. The time is now for the public transportation industry to be a part of the conversation on this transformative technology to ensure that we are not left out as we were during the TNC disruption.

Presenters:

• Sneha George, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
• Navraj Padda, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
• Rubi Sanchez, HDR Engineering, Inc.
• Ashlien Savage, Foothill Transit
• Calvin Wong, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority