Increasing automobile travel has resulted in more congestion and pollution, outdated and insufficient infrastructure, and higher levels of oil consumption. As a result, engineers, planners, and policy makers are trying to propagate the advantages of public transportation. Because all countries face obstacles in implementing public transportation facilities, the First International Conference on Urban Public Transportation Systems was held in Miami, Florida, March 21-25, 1999, to provide an exchange of ideas and innovations in the area of urban public transportation systems. ""Urban Public Transportation Systems"" is a collection of papers presented at this conference, where transportation professionals from 25 large international cities presented their cities urban public transportation systems, socio-economic characteristics, and land use and travel patterns. In addition, renowned members in the urban transportation field spoke in three panels, encompassing the future of public transportation, innovative financing in urban transportation, and innovative techniques and transit technologies.