The SkyWeb Express Personal Rapid Transit System

Numerous investigators, observing that conventional transit systems are no match for the automobile on a modern road, have sought a means for movement of people that would attract more riders while reducing costs. Understanding the benefits of automation, this activity led to the consideration of system consisting of very small, automatically controlled vehicles running on a network of small, low-cost elevated guideways. To obtain adequate capacity and to decrease trip time, the stations would be placed off-line. In this way the system would have the attractiveness of a freeway, which permits private travel at minimum trip time, but would require a great deal less space. In the late 1960s this concept was called Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) and governments began investing in it. Unfortunately, there are a great many ways to design a PRT system and at that early stage there are no serious theoretical work to determine how best to accomplish such a design. The author of this article was able to study all of the PRT work underway in the world, a thereby develop a comprehensive set of criteria to guide him to an optimized version of PRT. That version is now called SkyWeb Express. This paper briefly discusses the advantages of use of off-line stations and the design of the necessary guideway, vehicle, station, operations, and control system. Means for obtaining the necessary safety and reliability are also discussed, followed by a brief discussion of system costs and cost effectiveness. Finally, a list of benefits for the community and the patrons is given.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/184564008X
• Corporate Authors:

  WIT Press

  Ashurst Lodge
  Ashurst, Southampton  United Kingdom  SO40 7AA
• Authors:
  • Anderson, J E
• Conference:
  • Urban Transport XI: Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century
  • Location: Algarve , Portugal
  • Date: 2005-4-12 to 2005-4-14
• Publication Date: 2005-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: pp 113-121
• Monograph Title: Urban Transport XI: Urban Transport and the Environment in the 21st Century

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automation; Cost effectiveness; Design; Guideways; Optimization; People movers; Personal rapid transit; Public transit; System design; Urban transportation
• Subject Areas: Design; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01000829
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 184564008X
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 14 2005 10:49AM