ABSTRACT
Surface transportation systems in the United States today face a number of significant challenges. Congestion and safety continue to present serious problems in spite of the nation’s superb roadway systems. Congestion imposes an exorbitant cost on productivity, costing the nation an estimated $40 billion per year. Vehicle crashes cause another $150 billion burden to the economy and result in the loss of 40,000 lives annually. Inefficient surface transportation, whether in privately owned vehicles, commercial motor carriers, or public transit vehicles, constitutes a burden on the nation’s quality of life through wasted energy, increased emissions, and serious threats to public safety [41]. In addition, it directly impacts national economic growth and competitiveness.
