There are several reasons why the Federal Government can and must now establish an expanded, comprehensive research and development program in the field of urban transportation.
Not least is the inability of a fragmented industry facing declin- ing revenues to undertake such extensive, long-term investment.
But there are other salient reasons:
Over the next decade, nearly $50 billion will be invested in urban frecways and mass transit systems. It is simply not prudent to make such heavy investments without a thorough examina- tion of potential technologies and a rapid development of those alternatives which appear most promising.
Even the largest and strongest municipal governments, pub- lic authorities or private operators, cannot "take chances" on novel, unproven “new systems" of urban transportation. Their commitment of funds is too great, and for too long a period of amortization, to entertain the risks involved. Yet more than just marginal improvement to existing systems is needed if sub- santial benefits are to be received. The breakthroughs needed for "quantum jump” advances involve a degree of risk that the Federal Government can underwrite.
Even if there were no risk, the cost of developing and demon- strating the operation of a new system will be large and will benefit many urban areas. Only the Federal Government can both organize and help finance a research development pro- gram which would give all cities and metropolitan areas real alternatives in new urban transportation investment decisions. Competition by large numbers of cities for scarce resources, such as research and management skills, private capital, and public funds, could tend to bid up prices. The Federal Gov- ernment, by acting on behalf of many or all cities, will help maximize the use of these valuable resources, and thus save on total national program costs.
It should be clear, however, that an appropriate, construc- tive role will not intrude upon the prerogatives of municipal or State governments, regional authorities, or private industry. The utilization and implementation of the new transportation tech- nology remain in their hands.
It should not be the Federal Government's business, for ex- ample, to specify, design, build. or operate the transit systems in Chicago or Cheyenne. It is the Federal Government's re- sponsibility to see that resources of this country are devoted to providing alternative tools which those cities can use if they wish. The role of the Federal Government in urban transporta- tion should be to:
stimulate the technological community to respond to the special needs of urban areas in order that technology will be consonant with the social goals of urban areas, such as wider access to service by all persons;
help communities work together across jurisdictional boun- daries in plaming transportation systems which truly and effi- ciently serve entire regions, as part of the sound development of those regions:
