Principles of Transportation Engineering - Course Notes

Overview and Definitions of Transportation Engineering

  • Definition of Transportation:

    • The movement of people and goods from one location to another.

  • Definition of Transportation Engineering:

    • The branch of Civil Engineering that deals with the planning, designing, and construction of roads, bridges, railways, tunnels, harbors, ports, docks, runways, and airports.

    • According to the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE): "The application of technology and scientific principles to planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to provide for the safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical and economically compatible movement for people and goods."

Transportation Engineering as a Profession

  • Primary Civil Engineering Involvement:

    • The primary involvement of civil engineers in transportation is in the provision of physical facilities and devising operating strategies for them.

  • Physical Civil Engineering:

    • Involves the design, construction, and maintenance of fixed transportation facilities.

    • Encompasses the full spectrum of engineering specialties.

  • Operating Strategies (System Engineering):

    • Focuses on the planning and operation of the transportation system.

    • Involves transportation planning, including:

    • Analysis of transportation demand

    • Analysis of system capacity and operating characteristics

    • Design of traffic control and operating strategies (which include highway traffic engineering and operational design of freight and mass transit systems)

Roles of Transportation and Employment Opportunities

  • Roles of Transportation to Society:

    • Economic

    • Social

    • Political

    • Environmental

    • Transportation plays a crucial role in shaping economic growth, social mobility, political policies, and environmental sustainability in the Philippines.

  • Categories of Transportation Employment:

    • Logistics and Supply-Chain Management:

    • Logistics: The process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient and effective flow and storage of goods, services, and related information from origination to consumption as required by the customer.

    • Supply-Chain Management: An expansion of logistics; a process that coordinates product, information, and cash flows to maximize consumption satisfaction and minimize organization costs.

    • Vehicle Design and Transportation Services:

    • Service sector providing jobs for vehicle drivers, maintenance personnel, flight attendants, train conductors, and other necessary support personnel.

    • Transportation Infrastructure Services:

    • Civil engineers are primarily responsible for the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the transportation system.

    • The transportation engineer is the professional concerned with the planning, design, construction, operations, and management of a transportation system.

    • It is the engineer's responsibility to ensure that the system functions efficiently from an economic point of view, and that it meets external requirements concerning energy, air quality, safety, congestion, noise, and land use.

  • Specialties Within Transportation Infrastructure Engineering:

    • Planning:

    • Data Analysis

    • Forecasting

    • Evaluation

    • Design:

    • Geometric

    • Pavement

    • Drainage

    • Structural

    • Construction:

    • Surface Preparation

    • Grading

    • Pavement

    • Bridges

    • Operations and Management:

    • Traffic

    • Maintenance

    • Intelligent Transportation

    • Surveillance

    • Control

    • Research and Development:

    • Technology Transfer

    • Experience:

    • Field

    • Analysis

    • Projects

Transportation Systems and Characteristics

  • System Definition and Development:

    • The transportation system in a developed nation consists of a network of modes that have evolved over many years.

    • The system consists of vehicles, guideways, terminal facilities, and control systems; these operate according to established procedures and schedules in the air, on land, and on water.

    • Requires interaction with the user, operator, and environment.

    • Systems reflect the multitude of decisions made by shippers, carriers, government, individual travelers, and affected non-users concerning investment in or use of transportation.

    • The evolved transportation system has produced a variety of modes that complement each other.

  • Five Core Characteristics of Transportation Systems:

    • Multi-modal:

    • Definition: Covering all modes of transport (air, land, and sea) for both passenger and freight traffic.

    • Philippines Examples:

      • Land: Jeepneys, buses, MRT/LRT, PNR trains, tricycles, motorcycles, and private vehicles.

      • Air: Domestic and international flights via NAIA, Clark International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, etc.

      • Sea: Roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels, passenger ferries (e.g., 2GO Travel, OceanJet, Montenegro Lines).

    • Multi-sector:

    • Definition: Encompassing the problems and viewpoints of government, private industry, and the public.

    • Philippines Examples:

      • Government: Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

      • Private Industry: Ride-hailing apps (e.g., Grab, Angkas, Joyride), logistics companies (e.g., Lalamove, J&T Express).

      • Public: Commuters relying on jeepneys, buses, and trains.

    • Multi-problem:

    • Definition: Ranging across a spectrum of issues that includes national and international policy, planning of regional systems, the location and design of specific facilities, carrier management issues, and regulatory, institutional, and financial policies.

    • Philippines Examples:

      • Traffic congestion: Metro Manila's EDSA and Cebu's major roads face severe congestion.

      • Public transport inefficiency: Lack of modernized jeepneys, overcrowding in MRT/LRT.

      • Regulatory challenges: Implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

      • Financial concerns: Increasing fuel prices affect jeepney fares and operational costs.

      • Safety issues: Frequent accidents involving motorcycles and buses.

    • Multi-objective:

    • Definition: Aiming at national and regional economic development, urban development, environmental quality, and social quality, as well as service to users and financial and economic feasibility.

    • Philippines Examples:

      • Reduce congestion: Build skyways, expressways, and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems.

      • Improve urban mobility: MRT-7, subway projects in Metro Manila.

      • Enhance environmental sustainability: E-jeepneys, e-tricycles, and bike lanes.

      • Support economic growth: RoRo systems for inter-island connectivity to boost trade and tourism.

    • Multi-disciplinary:

    • Definition: Drawing on the theories and methods of engineering, economics, operations research, political science, psychology, other natural and social sciences, management, and law.

    • Philippines Examples:

      • Engineering: Infrastructure projects like the Metro Manila Subway.

      • Economics: Toll fees, fuel pricing, and public transport fares.

      • Political Science: Policies like the Jeepney Modernization Program.

      • Psychology: Studying commuter behavior to improve traffic management.

      • Law: Traffic rules, penalties, and regulations under the LTO.

Transportation Modes and Comparative Advantage Analysis

  • Classification of Modes:

    • Freight and Passenger Traffic

    • Public Transportation

    • Highway Transportation

  • Freight and Passenger Traffic:

    • Principal modes of intercity freight transportation are highways, railroads, water, and pipelines.

    • Four principal carriers for freight movement: Rail, Truck, Pipeline, Water.

  • Public Transportation Categories:

    • Generic term describing the family of transit services available to urban and rural residents.

    • Not a single mode, but a variety of traditional and innovative services that complement each other to provide system-wide mobility.

    • Transit Modes:

    • Mass Transit: Characterized by fixed routes, published schedules, designated networks, and specified stops. Mass-transit vehicles include buses, light rail, or rapid transit that either share space in mixed traffic or use dedicated guideways.

    • Paratransit: Characterized by flexible and personalized service intended to replace conventional fixed-route, fixed-schedule mass-transit lines. Examples include Jeepneys, Taxis, and Car rentals.

    • Ridesharing: Characterized by two or more persons traveling together by prearrangement, such as carpool, vanpool, or shared-ride taxi.

  • Highway Transportation:

    • Dominant mode in passenger travel and one of the principal freight modes.

    • Although total roadway mileage has not increased greatly, the quality of roadway surfaces and their capacity have improved due to increased investments in maintenance and construction through highway projects.

  • Comparative Advantage Analysis (Selecting a Transportation Mode Example):

    • Scenario: An individual plans a trip between the downtown areas of two cities, A and B, which are 400 km400\,km apart.

    • Available Trip Options:

    • Travel by Air: Involves driving to the airport near City A, parking, waiting at the terminal, flying to airport B, walking to taxi stand, and taking a taxi to the final destination.

    • Travel by Auto: Involves driving 400 km400\,km through several congested areas, parking in the downtown area, and walking to the final destination.

    • Travel by Rail: Involves taking a cab to the railroad station in City A, direct railroad connection to the downtown area in City B, and taking a short walk to the final destination.

    • Economic Parameters:

    • Traveler is willing to pay up to 25 per hour25\text{ per hour} of travel time.

    • Option Direct Costs and Total Travel Durations:

      • By Air: Direct cost = 250250, Total travel time = 5 hrs5\text{ hrs}

      • By Auto: Direct cost = 200200, Total travel time = 8 hrs8\text{ hrs}

      • By Rail: Direct cost = 150150, Total travel time = 12 hrs12\text{ hrs}

    • Mathematical Cost Computations (Direct Cost+[Time Value×Travel Time]\text{Direct Cost} + [\text{Time Value} \times \text{Travel Time}]):

    • By Air Total Cost: 250+25×5=375250 + 25 \times 5 = 375

    • By Auto Total Cost: 200+25×8=400200 + 25 \times 8 = 400

    • By Rail Total Cost: 150+25×12=450150 + 25 \times 12 = 450

    • Decision Evaluation:

    • Air reflects the lowest total monetary value (375375) and is the selected mode based on economic cost.

    • Additional Decision Considerations (Non-Cost Factors):

    • Safety: Traveling by rail may be preferred because of concerns regarding air safety issues.

    • Reliability: Traveler may select the mode providing the highest probability of on-time arrival.

    • Convenience: The number of departures and arrivals provided by each mode could be a decision factor.

Forces Driving Changes in the Transportation System

  • Change in Demand:

    • When population, income, and land-use patterns change, the pattern of demand changes in both amount and spatial distribution.

    • Example: Urbanization and economic growth in Metro Manila increased demand for mass transit systems like MRT, LRT, and Point-to-Point (P2P) buses.

    • Example: Remote work adoption post-pandemic reduced daily commuting demand while increasing demand for logistics and delivery services (e.g., Grab, Lalamove, Angkas).

  • Changes in Technology:

    • Modern technological developments introduce new transportation system options beyond traditional alternatives like bus and rail transit.

    • Example: Introduction of Beep Cards in MRT, LRT, and buses digitalized fare payments, reducing physical cash transactions.

    • Example: Adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and expansion of modernized PUVs under the PUV Modernization Program to enhance sustainability.

    • Example: Rise of ride-hailing applications (e.g., Grab, Joyride, Angkas) providing convenient, cashless urban mobility.

  • Change in Operational Policy:

    • Implementation of policy options designed to maximize transportation efficiency.

    • Example: Implementation of the EDSA Bus Carousel (Busway System) to improve travel efficiency along Metro Manila's main corridor.

    • Example: Implementation of the "No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP)" to enhance road discipline via automated traffic violation detection.

    • Example: Road pricing adjustments such as toll fees on expressways (NLEX, SLEX, Skyway) to fund maintenance and infrastructure expansion.

  • Change in Values of the Public:

    • Transition from viewing system beneficiaries monolithically as generalized users to identifying specific target demographic groups (e.g., the rich, the poor, the young, work commuters, leisure travelers).

    • Example: Demand for sustainable transport leading to dedicated bike lanes in Metro Manila and Iloilo City.

    • Example: Public awareness of inclusive transportation prompting improved accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens in trains and buses.

    • Example: Gender-sensitive transport policies introducing women-only train and bus sections for commuter safety.

Seven Categories of Transportation Organizations

  • Private Transportation Companies:

    • Definition: Companies available for hire to transport people and goods.

    • Examples: Philippine Airlines (PAL) [flag carrier], Cebu Pacific [low-cost airline], Victory Liner, Ceres Liner, Genesis Transport, Grab, Joyride, Angkas, MRT-7 under San Miguel Corporation.

  • Regulatory Agencies:

    • Definition: Agencies that monitor the behavior of transportation companies in areas such as pricing of services and safety.

    • Examples: Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) [regulates fares, routes, franchises], Land Transportation Office (LTO) [vehicle registration and driver licensing], Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) [air traffic control and aviation safety], Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) [maritime transport and shipping].

  • Federal Agencies:

    • Definition: Executive branch agencies responsible for executing national legislation dealing with transportation.

    • Examples: Department of Transportation (DOTr) [oversees all transportation modes, policy, and infrastructure projects], Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) [manages toll roads and expressways], Philippine National Railways (PNR) [operates government-run railway services].

  • State and Local Agencies and Authorities:

    • Definition: Authorities responsible for planning, design, construction, and maintenance of transportation facilities such as roads and airports.

    • Examples: Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) [manages traffic, road discipline, and public transport in Metro Manila], City Traffic and Transportation Management Offices (CTTMO) [local traffic management in cities like Cebu, Davao, and Iloilo], Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) & North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Authorities [expressway operations].

  • Trade Associations:

    • Definition: Associations representing specific transportation activity interests (e.g., railroads, intercity buses); furnish data/information, represent groups at congressional hearings, and facilitate discussions on mutual concerns (e.g., AASHTO, ITE, TRB).

    • Examples: Transport Cooperative Associations (e.g., PISTON, FEJODAP, ALTODAP) [jeepney and transport operators], Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) [airlines like PAL, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia], Truckers' Associations.

  • Professional Societies:

    • Definition: Societies composed of individuals employed across various transportation organizations who share a professional bond and meet at national conventions or specialized committees to share findings, learn from peers, and advance the profession.

    • Examples: Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) [transport infrastructure expertise], Transportation Science Society of the Philippines (TSSP) [transport research and policies], Society of Automotive Engineers of the Philippines (SAE-P) [vehicle engineering and safety].

  • Organizations of Transportation Users:

    • Definition: Organizations seeking to influence the legislative process and furnish members with useful information.

    • Examples: Commuter Rights Organizations (e.g., Move As One Coalition, Commuters of the Philippines), Cyclists and Pedestrian Advocacy Groups (e.g., MNL Moves, Firefly Brigade), Logistics and E-commerce Associations (e.g., Lazada Riders' Community, Shopee Express Couriers).

Academic References and Course Assignments

  • Reference Textbook:

    • Garber, Nicholas; Hoel, Lester. 2001. Traffic and Highway Engineering. Brookes/Cole Publishing.

  • Course Assignment #1 Instructions:

    • Goal: Illustrate the importance of transportation in national life.

    • Requirement 1: Identify a transportation-related article published in a local or national news outlet.

    • Requirement 2: Discuss the specific issue involved in the news item.

    • Requirement 3: Explain the reasons why the item was considered newsworthy.