Here's some backstory to the Morgantown PRT (and note the bit about the vehicles being based on Dodge truck chassis): https://prt.wvu.edu/
I suspect that West Virginia's long serving Senator Robert Byrd, a bigwig on the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured the funding for it. Oh, and note Boeing's involvement, like Boeing's involvement with light rail cars. Kinda suspect Boeing was favored given the mid and late 1970s sharp reduction in defense spending and aircraft sales. But gee, Reece, what in the world were you doing in Morgantown?
I'd recommend doing so sooner than later, I think this thing is on it's last legs. Really gives the vibe of an era when the world tried to take big bets on things like transport.
The Morgantown People Mover (not person mover) was big news while I was working on a statewide transit program in WV in 1974. A lot of pride by WVU people. I am sad to hear of its problems but that it did not dominate transport even there is only more evidence of the dominance of auto-oriented sprawl. Our project back then was about trying to address the mobility inequity from auto dominance.
I think the roll-out of driverless cars really changes the potential for PRT. Instead of requiring a fully grade-separated system with exclusive pods, you can be more flexible with the infrastructure.
It becomes more like (non-)BRT in that it can run on various degrees of dedicated guideways/lanes, with closed and open service concepts. With the lack of a driver allowing for smaller vehicles, more service patterns and higher frequencies compared to current bus service.
Surprisingly long, well-written observations. I *LOATHE* Chris Best and Substack and usually go out of my way to avoid promoting it or anything that looks like it but okay, I have made a copy of your link for re-posting. Thanks.
P.S. I have absolutely no idea what "(box) Also share to Notes" means. Is Lotus Notes still operational?
What problem does a PRT solve that isn't solved better by a self-driving car or self-driving minibus? What is the benefit of a fixed guideway for a low volume vehicle? I'm skeptical of the cost-benefit ratio if the only answer is that it works better in a blizzard.
Reece, I think you may have missed the other much bally-hoo'd PRT system in the US, Elon Musk's 'Loop' system, with the current small network in Vegas and rumblings about systems in other cities.
I suppose it may not qualify as PRT currently as there is a driver, but it behaves much like one. It seems likely that they aspire to remove the drive, especially since Tesla operates the same vehicles driverless on city streets in several cities in Texas.
Here's some backstory to the Morgantown PRT (and note the bit about the vehicles being based on Dodge truck chassis): https://prt.wvu.edu/
I suspect that West Virginia's long serving Senator Robert Byrd, a bigwig on the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured the funding for it. Oh, and note Boeing's involvement, like Boeing's involvement with light rail cars. Kinda suspect Boeing was favored given the mid and late 1970s sharp reduction in defense spending and aircraft sales. But gee, Reece, what in the world were you doing in Morgantown?
Riding the PRT!
Sorry, better link: https://prt.wvu.edu/about-the-prt
Lovely to see this, I have always wanted to ride it. I wrote about PRT years ago, when it was called a "cyberspace technodream" which has now been superceded by Hyperloopism. https://www.treehugger.com/rip-personal-rapid-transit-4855647
I'd recommend doing so sooner than later, I think this thing is on it's last legs. Really gives the vibe of an era when the world tried to take big bets on things like transport.
The Morgantown People Mover (not person mover) was big news while I was working on a statewide transit program in WV in 1974. A lot of pride by WVU people. I am sad to hear of its problems but that it did not dominate transport even there is only more evidence of the dominance of auto-oriented sprawl. Our project back then was about trying to address the mobility inequity from auto dominance.
Well I'm not sure it's so much that cars remained dominant as the system just not being all that great.
Reese, what are your thoughts on the whoosh gondola system for PRT. First systems looking to come online in 2027
Reece*
Well, as you can see these things are a dime a dozen, its so far impossible to pull off a successful business based on this.
Maybe this is what Vegas should have built instead of Elon's stupid deathtrap car tunnel.
Perhaps something akin to it . . . .or better just a subway.
I think the roll-out of driverless cars really changes the potential for PRT. Instead of requiring a fully grade-separated system with exclusive pods, you can be more flexible with the infrastructure.
It becomes more like (non-)BRT in that it can run on various degrees of dedicated guideways/lanes, with closed and open service concepts. With the lack of a driver allowing for smaller vehicles, more service patterns and higher frequencies compared to current bus service.
Maybe, but the dedicated guideway is kind of what makes it special.
Surprisingly long, well-written observations. I *LOATHE* Chris Best and Substack and usually go out of my way to avoid promoting it or anything that looks like it but okay, I have made a copy of your link for re-posting. Thanks.
P.S. I have absolutely no idea what "(box) Also share to Notes" means. Is Lotus Notes still operational?
I hope it's not too surprising, I try to write thoughtfully.
Notes is a Substack feature.
Oh! Like Google's "ONE" and "Drive" and Microsoft's "ONE" drive. Silly me.
American software. The mind reels.
What problem does a PRT solve that isn't solved better by a self-driving car or self-driving minibus? What is the benefit of a fixed guideway for a low volume vehicle? I'm skeptical of the cost-benefit ratio if the only answer is that it works better in a blizzard.
The same ones as an APM (dedicated guideway), but optimized for different trip patterns.
Reece, I think you may have missed the other much bally-hoo'd PRT system in the US, Elon Musk's 'Loop' system, with the current small network in Vegas and rumblings about systems in other cities.
I suppose it may not qualify as PRT currently as there is a driver, but it behaves much like one. It seems likely that they aspire to remove the drive, especially since Tesla operates the same vehicles driverless on city streets in several cities in Texas.
It just seems like an unserious system. Cars are not a good vehicle to use and that it isn't driverless on a closed course is nuts.