April 2024

From the President

Dear Peter, I was amazed to read about a commuter rail project called the Hudson Tunnel Project that is 6.5 miles long and yet only has one station. It is projected to cost $16 B! That works out to $2.5 B per mile or $16 B per station! The projected ridership was not provided, but it is hard to imagine this project has a benefit/cost ratio above 1.


ATN has the potential to provide similar levels of service at one thousandth the cost (OK, let's assume 100th or even a 10th the cost because of the need to tunnel) and yet is seldom considered. We have to keep working to change this.


PS: We love you. Please join ATRA/pay your dues/volunteer.


Together we can fix public transportation!


Best regards,


Peter Muller, ATRA President

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EDITORIAL

TRANSPORTATION'S BIGGEST PROBLEM


The big problem with all surface transportation systems is that when they fit into neighborhood environments and provide first/last mile service, they have limited speed and capacity. When they have high speed and capacity, they no longer fit into neighborhoods or provide first/last mile service. Automated transit networks (ATN) are the exception to this rule.


Because all intersections are merges or diverges with no crossovers, guideway traffic never stops. This continual flow provides good capacity at high average speeds. There is little or no distinction between minor and major guideways like we have between neighborhood streets, highways, and freeways. There are no stop streets, traffic lights or traffic jams.


This means that an ATN network with stations scattered throughout a community can provide both first/last mile service and high speed and capacity. One small limitation is that walking a quarter of a mile or less will be required, although the system should provide room for micro transit such as bikes or scooters. 


While there will always be some resistance to elevated guideways along neighborhood streets, it is believed that this can be overcome by elegant designs. Locating the guideway over the roadway can reduce the impact to some tree trimming. Noise and vibration impacts will be almost non-existent.


Finally, one transportation system that can provide great service throughout a community with no need to transfer or make unnecessary stops.


NEWS

Govt fails to adopt podway technology despite its potential in Nepal

KATHMANDU, April 16: The government has not adequately discussed the ‘podway’ technology, which has emerged as an alternative mode of transportation in developed countries, in Nepal. The policy arrangements and studies to introduce podway technology, considered suitable for making pollution-free, fast, and congestion-free public transport, have not been made.


Read more...

Dubai all set to launch driverless Sky Pod Transport System by 2030


Dubai, UAE (Urban Transport News): Dubai (UAE) is embarking on a series of ambitious public transport projects with the aim of transforming the city into a futuristic mobility hub.


Read more...

Pod taxis to provide last-mile connectivity in GIFT City; consultants appointed

The Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system will be the last mile connectivity between the metro rail and the offices in GIFT City


Read more...

UrbanLoop

100 days away from the Olympic Games, we held our first technical point with the Technical Service of Mechanical Lifts and Guided Transport, with the Keolis Group teams as well as with the teams from Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines for the first technical checks on the track, stations and the supervision.


Read more...

The above links are to articles that appear relevant to advanced transit but no guarantee is made as to their accuracy and no verification of the integrity of the associated websites has been made.

Editorial comments are in italics.
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