This free online course introduces you to the impact of urbanization on the economy and the growing travel demands of citizens living in urban areas. Firstly, it looks at the role of urban transportation in minimizing traffic crashes and the different ways of providing equity to the users of this transport system. Next, the legal and regulatory challenges, and the lack of integrated databases and comprehensive design standards for urban transportation systems, will be explained. The importance of supply and demand in modelling and the use of the four-step model (FSM) for determining the demand for the network and the integration of quality and level of service are also discussed. This includes the step-by-step process of determining the level of service for multilane highways and signalized intersections. The differences and similarities between public transport and private vehicle transport - and the challenges involved in improving public transportation plus its basic operating elements - are also explained.

Next, the course goes on to look at the different types of transit lines, networks, stops and stations, and their functions. You will study the role of the ‘right of way’ and the process of determining the fleet size and capacity of transport networks. The different types of travel or vehicle speeds, the classification of transportation based on the right of way, vehicle guidance, and propulsion or driving control, are examined. The roles of bus transportation and the process of designing and placing bus stops are discussed, including the advantages and disadvantages of busses in terms of flexibility, cost and capacity and also the elements required for planning an efficient bus network in a city. You will grapple with the factors that determine the fare structure in public transport systems and the different marketing strategies employed to improve transit ridership and revenues. Then, the vehicles that supplement the system, by providing first- and last-mile connectivity to commuters, are also discussed in this free course.

Finally, you will study advanced aspects of the operational characteristics of public transportation and the process of measuring the operating keys of transit services, including estimating the capacity and speeds of the bus and rail systems. The impact of station design elements on capacity and the procedures for estimating the size of a station stairway are also analyzed. Lastly, the objectives of a bus stop and the process of determining the location of a stop on a rapid transit line for minimizing the travelling time of passengers is analyzed. On completion of this free course, you will understand the role of an efficient transportation system in the urban economy. Diploma in Multimodal Urban Transportation Systems is an informative course that will interest students studying civil engineering, transportation engineering and urban planning.