Top 3 Mobility Transformation Technology Trends in 2019

In recent years, there has been a consistent need for mobility transformation. Not only has public transportation changed in recent years, but there has been new transportation developments like Uber, Lyft, and rentable scooters. 2019 is a promising time for actualizing the blueprints and plans on how to transform mobility using effective new technologies.

#1: Improved Curb-side

When it comes to public transit and rideshare, more value will be placed on the curb in 2019. This includes approaches that would promote a dynamic allocation and pricing of the curb. Over the recent years, there has been only discussion about the substantial impact that curb usage exerts on mobility. But, 2019 will actually usher in action in terms of effective management of the curb. Actual pilot projects that would pioneer effective management would surface in the year under review.

A Curbside Management Practitioner’s Guide was developed by the Institute of Transportation Management, geared towards local jurisdictions. The guide will teach them to inventory, evaluate, improve and place priority on curb spaces. This will in return help meet the demands of the curb space’s efficiently.

#2: ‘Complete Trip’ Creation

Complete Trip creation is a technological tool that will aid the transformation of mobility. Simply, it’s the availability of many trip stages or components that commence with trip planning, while the end point is the arrival at the destination. During the trip, there will be changes in the need for information, like in traffic, and technology helps at each stage. This year, there will be considerate growth in understanding this need.

To exemplify the scenario above, the U.S. Department of Transportation defines a Complete Trip as comprising 5 main stages. There’s also an additional USDOT effort towards evaluating current standards linked with accessible and multimodal level. The effort is for splitting a Complete Trip into multiple stages such as:

• Prior to the commencement of the trip – reservation and confirmation
• At the point of takeoff
• Between the starting point of the trip and first station/stop (where applicable)
• While at the stop, station, park-side or terminal location
• …and so on.

#3: Data Sharing

The import of data sharing for mobility as well as mobility facilitating tools cannot be overlooked, an example is the MaaS. But, obtaining operational data from non-public mobility providers (e.g. Lyft and Uber) can be quite challenging. Therefore, the trend in 2019 is that additional regional and local governments would come up with policies as well as legislation that require operational data emanating from the entire mobility service providers.

Consequently, it will be easier to gain insight into the market share of each mobility service in a region or city, as well as how these services impact public transport. For instance, San Francisco has a policy for accountability as one of the guiding principles that all mobility service providers must meet.

Charter Global’s team of professionals are taking the lead for mobility transformation. They have worked extensively with Atlanta’s MARTA public transportation, by creating their app and new iterations for it.