[sustran] Re: personal rapid transit (PRT) news

[Carlosfelipe Pardo]

The same quote of Sir Peter Hall would have been perfect for the car in 
the beginning of the twentieth century. Thanks for sending it! In the 
case of PRT, I am curious (maybe scared) to know what it is we can't yet 
see...

...shouldn't we solve Today before thinking about Tomorrow? I think 
there's lots to be done, and Asimov-style thinking hasn't been 
particularly accurate nor useful in the long run.

Carlos.

On 25/08/2011 06:49 p.m., Steve Raney wrote:
> States Sir Peter Hall (author of "Cities of Tomorrow"), "PRT may transform
> our cities in ways that we can't yet see."
>
> 1. Worldwide PRT industry grows to four customers
>
> The three established PRT manufacturers (with customers) are ULTra PRT,
> 2getthere, and Vectus. ULTra PRT's system at London Heathrow Airport has 2.4
> miles of guideway, three stations, and 21 vehicles. 2getthere has a system
> at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi featuring 1.1 miles of guideway, five stations,
> and 13 vehicles. 2getthere and ULTra PRT began passenger operation in late
> 2010. Vectus is implementing a system at Suncheon Bay, South Korea. This
> system is expected to open in 2013 with six miles of guideway and 40
> vehicles. The Amritsar system will be the world's fourth PRT customer. PRT
> combines low-cost infrastructure with compelling fare box and real-estate
> economics, to the point where Heathrow and Amritsar systems are financed
> solely by private sector sources. For PRT systems, a rule of thumb is "PRT
> infrastructure costs less than two percent of the value of land and
> buildings that are served." The Advanced Transit Association Industry Group
> recently published a concise, manufacturer-neutral industry description:
> [PDF: http://tinyurl.com/3hz5r9e ]
>
> 2. London Heathrow Airport ULTra system: awesome, cool, sci-fi, fast,
> fantastic
>
> On April 18, 2011, Terminal 5 (T5) Business Car Park passengers started
> using the Heathrow ULTra PRT system. In the weeks that followed, operating
> hours were increased, with the system operating a (22 hour) full service
> from May 7. As of August 21, approximately 63,000 passenger trips had been
> completed. The system currently carries about 800 passengers per day, and
> Airport owner/operator BAA has withdrawn the bus service from this car park,
> ensuring all passengers travel to and from T5 by the ULTra system. The five
> minute ride has been described as "futuristic", "rapid" and "a transport
> revelation."
>
> Twitter and Youtube:
> * "I love these things. Best airport transfer devices ever"
> * "Awesome sci-fi system"
> * "Landed and used the very cool #heathrowpod . and they're even better to
> use - quicker, easier and greener than the buses to/from the car park"
> * "I am in a pod. A bit like the cab on Total Recall without the mad driver!
> ... FAST though! ... Almost like a real life scalextric ;-)"
> * "Geek transportation par excellence!"
> * "Soooo cool!!  Addicting!!"
> * "Fantastic. Epochal. Could not be more excited.  First rate. Staff could
> not have been friendlier."
> * 30-second essence: http://youtu.be/iAkqNULN9eY
> * Full five-minute ride: http://youtu.be/yU972ULVTeU
>
> [ Globe and Mail: http://tinyurl.com/3egrzfw ]
> [ NY Times: http://tinyurl.com/3enctby ]
>
> 3. Amritsar out to bid. North India tourist center
>
> ULTra PRT and partner ULTra Fairwood undertook detailed planning of
> Amritsar's bustling, crowded Golden Temple tourist center in North India.
> The partnership submitted an unsolicited proposal for a two-mile,
> seven-station system. In response, the Punjab Infrastructure Development
> Board (PIDB) has specified a Public Private Partnership (PPP) via a Design,
> Build, Finance, Operate, and Maintain (DBFOM) concession.
>
> Amitsar Heritage City system alignment: [ LINK:
> http://www.fairwoodindia.com/personal-rapid-transport-system ]
>
> The Hindu Business Line explains innovative PPP "Swiss Challenge"
> procurement: [ Article: http://tinyurl.com/44mw5fb ]
>
> 4. Raleigh North Hills PRT
>
> Kane Realty Corporation and ULTra PRT announced the start of a feasibility
> study to bring PRT to North Hills at Raleigh, North Carolina. Developer John
> Kane was a recent Heathrow ULTra passenger: "I think it's a game changer.
> It's really fun. More people will want to live here, play here, and stay
> here, with a safe and easy way to move around. We can enhance current
> transit." North Hills is one of the finest examples of pushing the envelope
> on successful smart-growth, high density, and mixed-use. Included coverage:
> News 14 TV, News Observer. Triangle Biz Journal, Midtown Magazine, brochure,
> and fact sheet. [ LINK:
> http://www.ultraprt.com/applications/proposed-systems/raleigh-midtown/ ]
>
> 5. PRT speakers featured at three upcoming conferences
>
> * Podcar City, Stockholm, Sept 6-8:
> [ http://podcarcity.org/stockholm/ ]
> * Los Angeles Transportation NEXT, Sept 6:
> [ http://mobility21.com/overview/ ]
> * Master class:  People Movers in urban development, London, Sept 9:
> [http://www.transportxtra.com/events_and_services/events/?id=2138 ]
>
> 6. Scholarly ULTra PRT papers
>
> "ULTra PRT makes ongoing contributions to the peer-reviewed literature on
> topics encompassing control system design (empty vehicle management, station
> vehicle throughput optimization, etc), passenger response, planning, airport
> design, station interface, ridesharing, new mobility, and multimodal travel
> demand forecasting." [ PAPERS: http://www.ultraprt.com/media/papers/ ]
>
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