[sustran] FW: [atraPolicy] FW: Following the Yellow Brick Road to PRT

[Daryl Oster]

Parsons-Brinckerhoff was also a consultant for the FHSRA (florida high speed
rail authority).  More than $12M was spent for PB and other firms to: do a
couple traffic surveys (using college students and police officers);
download current high-altitude photos; re-package the I-4 alignment data
with HSR overlays (the I-4 data was paid for and "owned" by FDOT); freshen
up the 1-4 EIS and a few other paper shuffling and legal tasks. 

The alignment data was considered one of the most "labors intensive".  The
HSR overlays was therefore a nice "gift" to the two proposers offering HSR
technology. (It took one CAD operator less than a week to modify the i-4 CAD
files with ETT overlays).  The HSR proposals both claimed "millions" were
spent to make their proposals; if so, I would like to see it exposed where
the millions actually went!


Daryl Oster
(c) 2004  all rights reserved.  ETT, et3, MoPod, "space travel on earth"
e-tube, e-tubes,  and the logos thereof are trademarks and or service marks
of et3.com Inc.  For licensing information contact:    et3 at et3.com ,
www.et3.com  POB 1423, Crystal River FL 34423-1423  (352)257-1310


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave and Dorsa [mailto:davndors at cruzio.com]
> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 7:36 PM
> To: policy at advancedtransit.org
> Subject: Re: [atraPolicy] FW: [sustran] Following the Yellow Brick Road to
> PRT
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Daryl Oster" <et3 at et3.com>
> To: <policy at advancedtransit.org>
> Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2005 12:54 PM
> Subject: [atraPolicy] FW: [sustran] Following the Yellow Brick Road to PRT
> -
> Fellow Co-conspirators :
> This stuff is a mix of epithets, exaggerations and outright untruths. I
> will
> respond only to the issues about which I know something. At Sea-tac,
> Cincinnati, and St. Louis Taxi-2000 made legitimate presentations and were
> chosen as the peoples' choice. They then were subjected to what we in
> santa
> Cruz called a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). Here they consisted of
> advocates of buses largely - running the County Metro System and the
> University Buses that shuttled students and faculty to class.
> The consultant told us that the only technique that would decrease
> congestion was PRT, and he was summarily fired. The TAC took care of the
> rest. The consultants of the other three were Parsons-Brinckerhoff, and I
> quote Bob Brodbeck,"Unfortunately, our MPO and Parsons-Brinckerhoff [PB]
> didn't release their ridership estimates until one week before the final
> meeting at which the
> vote was taken [which many of us felt was done on purpose], which even
> though PB was not completely accurate in modeling the T2 Sky Loop system,
> it "won the ridership" hands down, showing from 2.4 to 4.6 times as many
> total riders per day as the Shuttle bus service and Streetcar [with
> traffic
> signal management no less] and from 5.9 to 11.7 times as many new daily
> riders." This study might have cost a $1m but it didn't go for PRT.
>     PB also scotched Sea-Tac, and St. Louis. I have another quote that I
> forward to any group looking for an unbiased consultant,
> "9/10/02  NEW INVESTOR IN SR 125 TOLL ROAD PROJECT
>      Parson Brinkerhoff signed an agreement today to sell its equity in
> the
> SR 125 toll road project in San Diego to the MacQuarrie infrastructure
> Group, an international investor in toll roads based in Australia.
>     MacQuarrie is acquiring California Transportation Ventures, which PB
> owns in partnership with the French firm, Egie Projects. CTV has performed
> all project development work including environmental permitting and
> preliminary design of the proposed h8ghway, since signing the franchise
> with
> the State of California in 1991 to develop, finance, construct, and
> operate
> the toll road. SR 125 is one of four privatization demonstration projects
> authorized by the California legislature in 1990. The legislation
> empowered
> Caltrans to retain private entities to develop transportation facilities
> in
> behalf of the state.
>     Through its management consultant group, PBConsult, Parson
> Brinckerhoff
> will remain involved with MacQuarrie in the continued development and
> implementation of the project."
>     Finally the Raytheon debacle. A contract was signed giving Raytheon
> permission to build to Taxi 2000 specifications. Like all  military
> contractors, they believed their engineers knew best, so they re-designed
> Taxi-2000 to carry four rather than three passengers. This made the cabs
> heavier requiring a heavier, larger guideway. The cabs were longer which
> required longer stations. The economy was lost, and after both Raytheon
> and
> Rosemont split the $40m bill and quit. PRT didn't squander that money.
>     'nff said, I think PRT will be all it's cracked up to be. Even
> Morgantown after Boeing redesigned it has run very nicely for about forty
> years.
> Fight on,
> Dave Walworth
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> are trademarks and or service
> marks
> > of et3.com Inc. For licensing information contact: et3 at et3.com ,
> > www.et3.com POB 1423, Crystal River FL 34423-1423 (352)257-1310
> >
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: sustran-discuss-bounces+et3=et3.com at list.jca.apc.org
> > > [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+et3=et3.com at list.jca.apc.org] On
> Behalf
> Of
> > > Eric Bruun
> > > Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 6:06 PM
> > > To: Sierra Club Forum on Transportation Issues; sustran-
> > > discuss at jca.ax.apc.org; hgstransport at yahoogroups.com
> > > Cc: Matoff, Tom; jschumann; Peter G. Furth; ross.p.kelvin at state.or.us;
> > > MARYON.John at urban-transport.com; Vukan Vuchic; nhmw at mit.edu; Ralph
> Jenne;
> > > ewisniewski at broward.org; Rogerboldt at aol.com; Jeff Casello;
> > > kikuchi at ce.udel.edu; Hemily, Brendon; pucher at rci.rutgers.edu; Garrity,
> > > Mark; Christopher Puchalsky
> > > Subject: [sustran] Following the Yellow Brick Road to PRT
> > >
> > > > > PTP Digest 2005/01/03-A = CONTENTS
> > >
> > > > > * NJ's PRT 'Gadgetbahn' is a boondoggle
> > > > >     New York Press Vol 17 - Issue 51 - December 22-28, 2004
> > >  =PTP====================================================
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.nypress.com/17/52/pagetwo/newshole8.cfm
> > > > >
> > > > > New York Press
> > > > > Vol 17 - Issue 51 - December 22-28, 2004
> > > > >
> > > > > Gadgetbahn
> > >
> > > > > A few weeks ago, the state of New Jersey appropriated $75,000 to
> study
> > > > > the development of a personal rapid transit system for Long
> Branch,
> a
> > > > > shore town just south of New York City. If PRT projects elsewhere
> are
> > > a
> > > > > sign of things to come, it's the beginning of an epic boondoggle.
> > > > >
> > > > > As described by its promoters, PRT is a computerized, driverless
> mass
> > > > > transit system. The passenger enters a sleek, four-person pod that
> is
> > > > > guaranteed to be waiting at the station, swipes a fare card,
> punches
> > > in
> > > a
> > > > > destination and goes. The pods run on a web of elevated tracks 16
> feet
> > > > > above street level with stations every two or three blocks apart.
> PRT
> > > > > advocates promise transportation with no wait, no traffic and no
> > > smelly
> > > > > strangers.
> > > > >
> > > > > In theory. In practice PRT has never worked anywhere despite 30
> years
> > > of
> > > > > study and development. Combining the small carrying capacity of an
> > > > > automobile with the expensive infrastructure of mass transit, PRT
> > > offers
> > > > > the worst of both worlds. If you want to see what it looks like,
> watch
> > > The
> > > > > Incredibles. In the movie, the evil villain's henchmen travel
> about
> > > their
> > > > > volcanic- island lair in pods that look remarkably similar to the
> > > system
> > > > > SkyWeb Express is selling to New Jersey.
> > > > >
> > > > > It's fitting that a cartoon villain should choose PRT as his ride
> of
> > > choice.
> > > > > Though it all sounds very gee-whiz innocent, PRT is a major scam.
> In
> > > > > Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Seattle, Chicago and elsewhere, PRT has
> > > burned
> > > > > through tens of millions of dollars of public and private
> investment.
> > > The
> > > > > only tangible result has been to clear the way for highway
> > > construction
> > > > > and make legitimate mass transit projects more difficult to build.
> In
> > > at
> > > least
> > > > > a few cases, after finally running PRT out of town, citizens
> learned
> > > that the
> > > > > public officials most enthusiastic about PRT had financial stakes
> in
> > > the
> > > companies developing it.
> > > > >
> > > > > There are signs that all of this is now underway across the river.
> PRT
> > > > > advocates expect to wring another $1,000,000 out of the New Jersey
> > > > > legislatures shortly. They dream of a pod network stretching from
> > > Atlantic
> > > > > City to the misbegotten Xanadu sports and entertainment complex at
> the
> > > Meadowlands.
> > > > >
> > > > > The PRT craze is a clear sign that an endgame is underway.
> Suburban
> > > > > Americans are waking up to the fact that their car-based lifestyle
> is
> > > broken
> > > > > and unsustainable. They are starting to look for solutions, but
> their
> > > vision
> > > > > is limited by an "autonomist" ideology that places personal
> > > convenience
> > > > > above all else, no matter what the cost. Rather than looking at
> > > > > transportation options that we know work (PRT gurus derisively
> refer
> > > to
> > > > > the train as a "19th-century technology"), Americans are looking
> for
> a
> > > > > high-tech miracle to save them from the rough road that is so
> clearly
> > > ahead. PRT ain't it.
> > > > >
> > > > > Volume 17, Issue 52
> > > > >
> > > =PTP===================================================
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.counterpunch.org/frank01032005.html
> > > > >
> > > > > CounterPunch:
> > > > > November 27 / 28, 2004
> > > > >
> > > > > Strange Bedfellows
> > > > >
> > > > > Greens and Republicans
> > > > >
> > > > > By JOSHUA FRANK
> > > > >
> > > > > You probably haven't heard of it. It goes by the name of Personal
> > > Rapid
> > > > > Transit (PRT), and it is fast becoming the latest fad of the Green
> > > Party
> > > and others.
> > > > >
> > > > > So what is this PRT anyway? As Aaron Naparstek recently wrote in
> NY
> > > > > Press, "PRT is a computerized, driverless mass transit system. The
> > > > > passenger enters a sleek, four-person pod that is guaranteed to be
> > > > > waiting at the station, swipes a fare card, punches in a
> destination
> > > and
> > > > > goes. The pods run on a web of elevated tracks 16 feet above
> street
> > > level
> > > > > with stations every two or three blocks apart. PRT advocates
> promise
> > > > > transportation with no wait, no traffic and no smelly strangers."
> > > > >
> > > > > Even David Cobb, the anointed leader of the GP, has touted PRT as
> a
> > > > > "Green Technology" and trumped its potential benefits while
> > > > > "campaigning" in Minnesota last year. Dean Zimmerman a
> Minneapolis,
> > > > > Minnesota city councilman and GP member says that PRT "is going to
> be
> > > > > a major breakthrough in how people move around urban centers."
> > > > > Zimmerman has even spoken publicly with right-wing Republicans to
> > > > > make a case for more public funds to study the technology.
> > > > >
> > > > > Sounds odd. Are Republicans turning green on us? Or is the
> national
> > > > > Green Party losing its marbles? Sorry to say, it's the latter.
> > > > >
> > > > > In reality PRT has never worked despite over 30 years of research
> and
> > > > > development. Combining the small carrying capacity of a small car,
> > > with
> > > > > the expensive infrastructure of mass transit, PRT offers the worst
> of
> > > both
> > > > > worlds. Plus, it's the brainchild of Ed Anderson's private
> corporation
> > > Taxi
> > > > > 2000, who has already made a bundle of cash by convincing city and
> > > > > state governments that it is in their best interest to hand over
> phat
> > > research checks.
> > > > >
> > > > > Although Los Angeles and Santa Cruz California have voted down
> > > > > proposals to allocate money to study the futuristic transit
> system,
> > > New
> > > > > Jersey, which has already appropriated $75,000 to PRT, plans to up
> > > that
> > > > > by $100,000 this coming year. While out in Minneapolis and Duluth,
> > > > > Greens and others are hoping their government will pony up the
> needed
> > > cash to go through with the PRT study.
> > > > >
> > > > > Despite the past failures of PRT, hopes among its boosters remain
> > > high.
> > > > > Perhaps their hopes aren't for a green public transit system;
> rather
> > > they
> > > > > hope PRT can continue to swindle even more loot out of government
> > > accounts.
> > > > >
> > > > > "PRT is really a stalking horse for the pro-highway, anti transit
> > > lobby,"
> > > > > claims Ken Avidor who has kept a watchful eye on PRT in his home
> state
> > > > > on Minnesota. "It is supported by highway engineering firms,
> right-
> > > wing
> > > > > Republicans like [Minnesota] State Senator Michele Bachmann and
> Tom
> > > Delay."
> > > > >
> > > > > This new marriage surely makes for strange bedfellows, as Greens
> and
> > > > > Republicans seem to see eye to eye on the PRT boondoggle. Plus,
> > > > > Greens should know the history of those they are jumping into bed
> > > with.
> > > > >
> > > > > The state of Illinois and Raytheon, the maker of "Bunker Buster"
> > > bombs,
> > > > > Tomahawk, Patriot missiles, and other assorted weaponry -- has
> > > invested
> > > > > over $38 million to study PRT in the Chicago metro area.
> > > > >
> > > > > "Though it all sounds very gee-whiz innocent, PRT is a major
> scam,"
> > > > > writes Naparstek in NY Press. "In Minneapolis, Cincinnati,
> Seattle,
> > > > > Chicago and elsewhere, PRT has burned through tens of millions of
> > > > > dollars of public and private investment. The only tangible result
> has
> > > been
> > > > > to clear the way for highway construction and make legitimate mass
> > > > > transit projects more difficult to build. In at least a few cases,
> > > after
> > > finally
> > > > > running PRT out of town, citizens learned that the public
> officials
> > > most
> > > > > enthusiastic about PRT had financial stakes in the companies
> > > developing
> > > it."
> > > > >
> > > > > Joshua Frank is the author of the forthcoming book, Left Out!: How
> > > > > Liberals Helped Reelect George W. Bush, to be released in early
> 2005
> > > by
> > > > > Common Courage Press. He can be reached at:
> > > > > frank_joshua at hotmail.com
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
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