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Page:1968 tomorrows transportation new systems for the urban future.pdf/17

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THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT was directed in 1966 [by Section 6(b) of the Crban Mass Trans- portation Act of 1964, as amended] to

undertake a project to study and prepare a program of re- search, development, and demonstration of new systems of urban transportation that will carry people and goods within metro- politan areas speedily, safely, without polluting the air, and in a manner that will contribute to sound city planning.

This report summarizes the findings of the "new systems" study. The study reflects the concern of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for cities and their people, as well as for their transportation. For assistance in performing the study, the Department engaged 17 contractors from industry, scientific research centers, universitics and the foun- dations over an 18-month period. Economists, engineers, scien- tists, technicians, urban planners, systems analysts, manage- ment consultants, and transportation experts were employed. The results of their efforts and a recommended research and development program are summarized here. A series of more detailed technical reports, containing the specific findings of the contractors, will be forthcoming.

In brief, the study found that progress in urban transporta- tion technology, rudimentary today, could nevertheless be greatly enhanced and accelerated by vigorous leadership of the Federal Government-in cooperation with the private indus- tries concerned using a systematic, carefully designed, and reasonably funded research and development program as the major guiding stimulus.1