Effects of a V/STOL Commuter Transportation System on Road Congestion In The San Francisco Bay Area

Part of a broader analysis of the socioeconomic and environmental effects of an intraurban air transportation system on the San Francisco Bay Area. The impacts of a V/STOL system on both highway congestion and parking requirements downtown are discussed here. Two systems are considered: a "1980" system using a 50-passenger helicopter and a "1990" system using a 50-passenger vehicle with tilt rotor design. Conclusions of the study point out that the implementation of a V/STOL system would remove a substantial amount of road traffic--by 1990 traffic on the Bay Bridge might be reduced by as much as one-half of its present level. Also, potential savings in freeway expansion costs could amount to $256 million by 1980 and $510 million by 1990. Finally, the V/STOL system would free from 35 to 62 acres of off-street parking areas in downtown San Francisco, which could then be used for other purposes.