When access to transit solutions are restricted for part of a community, a division can occur that over time leads to a depressed and disadvanted socioeconomic condition that only worrsens with time. A restriction in transit solutions causes difficulty in accessing resources such as healthy food, medical facilities, education, employment, and more. In order to remedy restricted access to transit, this project focuses on creating a virtual community train that allows a scaleable and energy efficient solution available to all regardless of individual circumstances or limitations. Similar to an elevator, this virtual community train is free for riders helping to close the socioeconomic gap. The implementation of a virtual community train allows increased access to all resources by allowing an on-demand electric solution with a single driver that can pair with existing public transit to enhance options as well as being able to stand alone as a transit solution. This single driver solution moves multiple virtually connected vehicles at once providing true on-demand service that is scalable based on data to improve efficiencies and maximize impact. This solution does not require any infrastructure cost as compared to a light rail solution. Phase I research includes data acquisition and analysis on key metrics such as moblity, energy, and productivity metrics to quantify the time cost and energy efficiency and effectiveness with a system that connects people, goods, services and employment. Mobility will be measured by the transit mode share, vehicle occupancy, and transit riding and waiting times; energy by total energy consumption and efficiency (on a per passenger mile basis); and productivity by the number of accessible opportunities. Emissions, equity impacts, community needs, market feasibility and more will also be analyzed. Using analyzed data, a system of design requirements will be produced that can then be used to create a preliminary prototype design resulting in design specifications that relate directly to community needs. Market transformation will begin using collected market data to ensure the project succeeds beyond Phase I. In Phase II the virtual community train prtotype is developed and tested and then deployed in Phase III and fully commercialized
