Transit cloverleaf and freeway/cloverleaf system

Abstract

A freeway cloverleaf and transit cloverleaf, and system, having preferred embodiments that offer one or more of these advantages: reduced congestion and / or “weaving” in the immediate vicinity of the intersection of the two freeway routes; means for transit vehicles—and more generally all passenger carrying vehicles—to proceed to proximate transfer locations, which may be situated above the intersection, or which may be linked by elevated walkways, such that people need move only a short distance to complete a transfer from one route to another; facilitates ride sharing, car pooling and “park-and-ride,” including but not limited to scenarios where people drive to a transit facility with parking, and can complete a trip—often commuting to work—using transit; facilitates more efficient transit vehicle use, including switching among larger or smaller transit vehicles based on projected and / or real-time consumer demand; connects people and vehicles with surrounding neighborhoods, including retail and other businesses, by means of the park-and-ride and transit features; promotes biking and the use of other “people roller” technology for short trip; reduces congestion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The traditional cloverleaf highway intersection has been in use for decades. Most generally it is built when two freeway-speed routes intersect at roughly a 90 degree angle. In the context of countries where people drive on the right, there are four inner cloverleaf loops; typically entered by a vehicle just beyond the intersection of an intersecting freeway route. The vehicle exits one freeway route, and loops 270 degrees around the inner cloverleaf, while changing elevation as needed to conform to the intersecting freeway route that the vehicle will be entering. After turning 270 degrees, the vehicle enters the intersecting route; the effect of this is to have completed a left hand turn from a first freeway right of way on to a second freeway right of way. The traditional cloverleaf intersection also typically has four arc shaped perimeter lanes; each perimeter arc lane allows traffic from one of the intersecting freeway routes to effect what amoun...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a Transit Cloverleaf that offers several advantages, such as reducing congestion and promoting biking and other modes of transportation. It also allows for more efficient use of transit vehicles and connects people and vehicles with surrounding neighborhoods. The upgrade paths allow for the creation of different levels of functionality and can also include a garage for maintaining and utilizing different sizes of transit vehicles. Overall, the Transit Cloverleaf improves safety, efficiency, and promotes sustainable transportation.

Problems solved by technology

Regarding transit—and more generally entrances and exits from one vehicle to another—it is effectively impossible to do this with the current cloverleaf design.

Even if buses and other vehicles could safely stop well before or well after the intersection—and this is problematic—the distance from one stopping point to another would typically require a long walk, possibly up to 500 feet or more.

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