ADVANCED TRANSIT FLEET MANAGEMENT TRANSFER OF EUROPEAN SYSTEMS AND SOLUTIONS INTO NORTH AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT

Advanced technologies and solutions for public transit fleet management and passenger service have a long history in Europe. For instance in Germany the federally funded transit research and development program was initiated in 1971 with the objective to promote innovative technical and operational concepts and to allow for thorough practcal tests and trials of prototype and first-time applications. New technologies were designed, developed, tested and matured to practical usefulness. This paper describes the major criteria, options and benefits of the transfer of European transit management technology into the North American environment.