Abstract: A comprehensive system to optimize utilization of transportation resources, including public vehicles such as municipal buses, quasi-public vehicles such as university and corporate campus shuttles, private vehicles, and freight carriers (all participating vehicles collectively, “Transportation Assets”) and provide superior, expedient, efficient, and economical transportation options to prospective passengers or cargo items (each, a “Rider”). A central tracking and guidance system (the “Coordination System”) will monitor the current itineraries, present locations, capabilities, and operator-designated preferences of Transportation Assets. A Rider seeking transportation will be directed to a point of rendezvous with a Transportation Asset on the basis of computer or smartphone-provided destination and price preference information given by such Rider, and such Rider's mobility.