Performance Measures for Personal Rapid Transit

Performance measures for personal rapid transit (PRT) are developed, in anticipation of the fulfillment of plans to implement this mode in various settings. PRT, a form of public transportation, is distinguished from “traditional” transit in using vehicles carrying one to four persons, direct origin-to-destination service, and service on-demand. Several performance measures developed for “traditional” transit are adopted, along with a few sustainability-related measures. Eighteen measures in 14 different categories are developed, including availability, service delivery, community impacts, travel time, safety, security, maintenance, economics, capacity, paratransit (demand responsiveness), comfort, energy, environment, and materials. Values for most of the measures are presented for PRT, light rail transit (LRT), and auto. PRT may be similar to both LRT and auto in terms of average speed and passenger capacity, depending on the application. PRT would be similar or superior to LRT in passenger injuries, and superior to LRT and auto (quieter) in noise generation. PRT is projected to have a higher farebox recovery ratio than U.S. LRT systems, although there is no data to support the claim. PRT emission rates would be substantially lower than those for LRT and auto. PRT would also outperform LRT and auto in several energy consumption areas, including fuel efficiency (mpg), energy efficiency (BTU/mi), and parasitic energy consumption (defined in the paper). The fuel efficiency in terms of person-mpg for LRT operating at capacity would be greater than that for PRT. The development of measures for payback period, response time (for PRT), and solid waste requires further research. Overall, PRT possesses many of the personalized characteristics of the auto, with safety, emissions and energy performances equal or superior to those of LRT.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Cottrell, Wayne D
  • James, Bill
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 88th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2009-1-11 to 2009-1-15
• Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: DVD
• Features: Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 11p
• Monograph Title: TRB 88th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Economics; Energy consumption; Environmental impacts; Light rail transit; Maintenance; Origin and destination; Paratransit services; Personal rapid transit; Pollutants; Public transit; Safety and security; Sustainable development; Travel time
• Uncontrolled Terms: Service delivery
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01127341
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 09-2951
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Apr 29 2009 11:34AM