19 August 2010

Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)?

Personal Rapid Transit or PRT is a relatively new concept that few places have installed.  Morgantown, West Virginia, USA is the only city with operational PRT system.  PRT can be seen as a taxi system on tracks.  Each PRT station has its own track, separate from the main track, so the other PRT vehicles can bypass the station, as shown:

PRT has many benefits over other forms of transport:
  • Faster (travels non-stop to destination)
  • 100% on-demand service
  • Environmentally green
  • Safe (Computer controlled)
  • Unworthy as a terrorist target
As such, there are ten more systems that are in test, under construction, or being proposed.

There is also one city that has plans for a full PRT system throughout the city.  Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates is a future city to be completed in 2014.  By 2009, part of the city was already liveable.  The city is planning to build a full PRT system by 2012 which will replace roads in the city.  The following is a rendering of Masdar City:
Though PRT is relatively new, it seens to by a goof option as some cities like Masdar City has adopted the idea and even banned automobiles for PRT.

As Singapore is a highly populated city, PRT would probably be a good option for Singapore.  Perhaps in 2040, PRT would replace roads in Singapore?

2 comments:

  1. Learn more about PRT (pictures, videos, papers, etc.) at www.prtconsulting.com

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  2. It is critical to plan carefully for the introduction and growth of PRT. It should start serving a focused location where it can have the most benefits at the least net cost, ideally a new or growing mixed-use development where the PRT system can reduce capital costs of roads & parking structures, and operating cost of shuttle buses and taxis.
    Plan for evolution

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