Innovations

Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)

Code

PT 1.12

Title

Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)

Case study/reference

Alderson, J. (2016). Correspondence with Jerry Alderson, Director at Railfuture [email].

Furman et al (2014). Automated Transit Networks: a review of the state of the industry and prospects for the future. San José: Mineta Transportation Institute.

Gorris, T. & de Kievit, M. (2011). Citymobil: towards advanced transport for the urban environment.

Marlier, E. & van Kesteren, D. (2016). Interview with David van Kesteren, expert in Automated Vehicles.

Niches + (2010). Guidelines for implementers of Personal Rapid Transit.

Kossak A. (2015). The Future will not destroy the past. Thinking Cities, 2(1), 46-50.

Provincie Gelderland (n.d.). Zelfrijdende auto in Gelderland [online]. Available at: www.gelderland.nl/zelfrijdend-voertuig.

Sinclair Knight Merz (2008). Daventry PRT Scoping Study. London: SKM.

Taxistop (2015). Autonome auto's: 25 beleidsmaatregelen voor 2025. Workshop in Wremen (Germany) [report].

Tillema et al (2015). Chauffeur aan het stuur? Zelfrijdende voertuigen en het verkeer- en vervoersysteem van de toekomst. Den Haag: Kennisinstituut voor Mobiliteitsbeleid.

Uniresearch (2016). CityMobil [online]. Available at: www.citymobil-project.eu.

Zuylen, van et al (2010). The integral assessment of PRT for Scienceport Holland. Delft: Delft University of Technology.

Recommendations for the design

Useable for small to medium passenger flows. It needs a lot of testing time needed, for years. Combined development of infrastructure and vehicle. It is needed to look at locations, where it can be implemented and the different travel demand patterns.

Recommendations for the implementation

This innovation is difficult to be implemented. Therefore, more research, development and validation are needed before implementation of PRT in complex wide-area networks.

Brief description

Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) is a Public Transport mode that uses automated electric ‘podcars’ to provide a taxi - like service for individuals or small groups of travellers.

Full description

PRT is a Public Transport mode that uses small, automated electric 'podcars' to provide a taxi-like service for individuals or small groups of travellers. They run on a segregated guide way in order to ensure unhindered direct trips between origin and destination. These guide ways are arranged in a network topology with frequent merge/diverge points. This allows for fast, individual, point-to-point travel and short waiting times. PRT has the potential to reduce noise and environmental pollution locally because electric vehicles are used. PRT therefore provides a potentially sustainable solution for urban mobility in areas with poor access to main line public transport and / or as a first and last mile solution. The main application areas of PRT at the moment are airports, tourist attractions, shopping parks and malls, universities, eco towns, etc.

CIPTEC score

4.0