Quote:
Originally Posted by SnyderBock
I've read about this technology before. I remember it being developed with the help of a Federal Grant designated to develop more affordable technologies for expanding our 21st century transportation infrastructure. Basically, they're looking for innovative breakthroughs which drastically reduce upfront construction costs, allowing for rapid transit to be expanded to more places, on shorter timelines. It is a demonstration technology.
|
PRT yes, still developmental. The first modern system after the Morgantown system opened in the 70's was constructed recently at London's Heathrow Airport Terminal 5. I've never ridden the system, but from first hand reports the pods are very slow and the infrastructure way overbuilt for as light as the system is. This is because the feds require an emergency egress walkway along the elevated guide way, and a majority of the London system is dual track. PRT systems are designed specifically around single-track mainline guideways on separate streets with passing tracks for stations.
This "gadget transit," like monorails, maglev, and PRT are great to study, because in the future they could potentially provide transit services in the future (read: when we have money to pay for them.) PRT probably shows the most promise, but respectfully not in the ways that Jerry from Skytrain would convince you. PRT is a wonderful way to solve transit's last-mile problem, by connecting a commuter rail, metro, or light rail station to 50,000 desks, homes, parks, what have you. PRT would work well in connecting existing suburban office parks to transit, too. With some more work, the design will be nimble and light, and agile enough to weave between buildings and provide an on-demand service to transit riders and office workers.
Unfortunately, the technology isn't there yet.