personal rapid transit. BBC: "Brilliant Fun"

[Steve Raney]

PRT (personal rapid transit) is an electric, 200-mpg-equivalent, elevated transit system with many four-person vehicles. Working as circulator transit for office parks, airports, universities, entertainment centers, and other major activity centers, PRT is faster than a car. In these applications, PRT makes carpooling, light rail, commuter rail, bus, and bike more effective, by solving the "last mile problem."

Highlights:

* BBC: World's first PRT passenger: "Something from a James Bond movie. A serious bit of kit. It's so Star Trek. Incredibly quiet, smooth. Not quite normal. Brilliant fun."

* Minnesota: "We need to explore innovative strategies that are efficient and cost-effective and can improve motorists' commutes. We owe it to the citizens of our state to keep on the leading edge of technology and present these options to them."

* San Jose: "San Jose, as the Capital of Silicon Valley, is stepping into a leadership role to help further the development of innovative transit technologies that have the potential to reshape how we move in the future and organize our cities in a more sustainable and livable way."

* Times of London: "One of 20 proven ways to save the earth."

* UK Sustainable Development Commission: "The ultimate in changing travel behavior."

* Architecture: PRT fosters invention and innovation. PRT's svelte, elevated form enables low-impact threading through a 420-year-old city where other modes cannot pass. SketchUp 3D PRT models available to anyone with talent/creativity.

* First youtube look at 2gethere PRT running at Masdar Ecocity

* 17 vehicles at London Heathrow ULTra PRT

* Vectus PRT's Suncheon (S. Korea) MOU.

* Harvard Biz School case study: "PRT creates huge value: reducing automobile congestion, and getting passengers to their desired destinations more quickly and more reliably."

DETAILS:

1. BBC's very popular Inside Out program covered the ULTra London Heathrow system, with reporter Josie d'Arby serving as the first member of the public to take a ride. "Something from a James Bond movie. A serious bit of kit. It's so Star Trek. Incredibly quiet, smooth. Not quite normal. It's weird, completely weird. Brilliant fun." Featured in the segment are ATS Founder Martin Lowson, ATS CEO Phil Smith, BAA PRT Manager David Holdcroft ("Very green. Really good passenger service. Fun."), and ATS Vehicle Manager Adam Ruddle. Available are: BBC's news story and program transcript and stills. BBC's video material is unfortunately not viewable within the US. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8377030.stm, http://www.ultraprt.net/cms/index.php?page=bbc-brilliant-fun

2. Minnesota's DOT launched a significant PRT effort. MN Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel: "PRT systems are being developed around the world. We need to explore innovative strategies that are efficient and cost-effective and can improve motorists' commutes. We owe it to the citizens of our state to keep on the leading edge of technology and present these options to them." Sorel said he's had many discussions about PRT with Governor Tim Pawlenty, who he said supports exploring PRT. PRT system concept sketches are provided for Edina, St. Paul, and Rochester. http://www.ultraprt.net/mn.htm

3. Not to be outdone, San Jose trumpeted US PRT leadership. Hans Larsen, Acting Director, San Jose DOT on PRT: "San Jose, as the Capital of Silicon Valley, is stepping into a leadership role to help further the development of innovative transit technologies that have the potential to reshape how we move in the future and organize our cities in a more sustainable and livable way. Silicon Valley is the innovation center of the world and it would be a natural fit for Silicon Valley to be the epicenter for developing new, modern transit technology. Constructing a PRT system would advance a number of the City's high-priority goals, including advancing San Jose's Green Vision goals supporting technological innovation, and improving the effectiveness of the City's existing transit network." http://gas2.org/2009/12/09/san-jose-to-participate-in-sustainable-transportation-conference-in-sweden/

4. Times of London lists PRT as one of 20 climate-saving solutions in their Sunday feature article entitled "20 proven ways to save the earth." http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6931775.ece

5. The UK Sustainable Development Commission concluded that PRT is "the ultimate in changing vehicle behavior," as published in the report entitled: "Smarter Moves: How Information Communications Technology can promote Sustainable Mobility." http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications.php?id=1050

6. Architectural Innovations. PRT has created a brand new architectural arena of invention and innovation. ATS ULTra's recent Bath Design Competition explored theoretical options for placing PRT within a historically sensitive city founded in 1590. PRT's svelte, elevated form enables low-impact threading where other modes cannot pass. PRT guideway can be easily tailored to blend in with the most architecturally challenging backdrops. As evidenced by the many submissions, architects enjoy working with PRT. Many of the submissions presented first-of-its-kind concepts. http://www.ultraprt.net/cms/index.php?page=architecture-innovations

Google SketchUp 3D ULTra PRT models are available. Models for guideway, stations, and vehicles are available for download with specifications, design guidelines, and instructions. Sample customizations are suggested. SketchUp was designed to be very easy to use. http://www.ultraprt.net/cms/index.php?page=sketchup-3d-models

7. First youtube look at 2gethere PRT running at Masdar Ecocity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDzq-lqe8_c

8. Vectus PRT's Suncheon (South Korea) MOU for a first system. PDF: http://tinyurl.com/y959sux

9. 17 vehicles at London Heathrow ULTra PRT. As of Feb 16, there were 17 vehicles at the London Heathrow ULTra site. A youtube video shows six vehicles participating in a test traveling between the three Heathrow stations. All system components (including automatic berth doors, vehicle charging, and passenger destination selection kiosks) are fully operational. "In 2010 we will progress through a comprehensive series of confidence-building passenger trials, as we move towards the commencement of public operations in the first half of the year" - Phil Smith, ATS ULTra CEO. http://www.atsltd.co.uk/news/55/85/Multi-Vehicle-Testing-at-Heathrow/

New Heathrow pictures show Terminal 5 station details, Business Car Park station details, destination selection kiosks, the vehicle maintenance/storage depot, control room operation, and control room CCTV. http://www.ultraprt.net/cms/LHRimagesFeb10.htm

10. Harvard Business School Professor Benjamin Edelman recently published a case study on PRT: "Business and communities small and large are increasingly aware of PRT as a ‘green' solution to multiple transportation problems from (in)convenience to price to congestion. I'm convinced that PRT creates huge value-reducing automobile congestion, and getting passengers to their desired destinations more quickly and more reliably. I'm particularly struck by the use of PRT to increase the value of land that might otherwise be viewed as undesirable. Consider a parcel that's a bit beyond walking distance from the subway, restaurants, and the like. Right now, a developer must accept a dramatically reduced price for that kind of land. But PRT could connect outlying buildings directly to a subway platform and a restaurant district." http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/6333.html

Summary from: http://www.cities21.org/cms/index.php?page=feb2010

[tomikawaTT]

Assuming that one of these 'grade-free roller coaster rides' ever gets built, is your organization going to demand that they install air bags on both ends of every vehicle?  (I assume they will be bi-directional.)

Chuck

[Steve Raney]

Safety certification for PRT follows the "zero fatalities" mindset applied to airport automated people movers that follow the America Society of Civil Engineers APM Safety Standards.

Some safety explanation for the ULTra system that starts at London Heathrow Airport this summer :

1. Safety narrative/certification

Worldwide, there are 144 automated fixed guideway transit systems operating. These carry more than 4.6 million passengers per day (source: Planners Guide to Automated People Movers, 2006/7), operating with 100 times fewer accidents per passenger mile compared to both a) non-grade separated transit such as Commuter Rail and LRT and b) private automobile travel.

Interestingly, legacy transportation systems such as “automobiles traveling on roads” and non-grade-separated rail transit could NOT achieve safety certification under the spirit of the current automated transit safety law. Under this spirit, fatalities are not allowed. In contrast, there were 500 fatal collisions between non-grade-separated trains and pedestrians in the US in 2006 and there were 37,261 US highway fatalities in 2008.

ULTra is compatible with federal and state PRT safety standards as well as national fire escape code. There will be approximately 361 different “safety cases” for any PRT implementation, covering: earthquake, truck crashes into column, falling debris, fire, bad people, extreme weather, vehicle fails on guideway, slipping on stairs, etc.

Safety in all aspects of the design, construction and operation of PRT is ULTra PRT’s (the company’s) first priority. So far as practicable we have designed out risks so as to minimize human error. The wide range of experience held within the team at ULTra PRT, combined with the expertise of members of the independent Safety Verification Team (SVT), means that a culture of positive but direct challenge to the detail of the proposal is embedded within the project team.

The process by which UK ULTra safety approvals were obtained is similar to that employed within the US. A Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) was undertaken and mitigating features identified. The residual risks were classified in terms of frequency with which an accident may occur and the worst case harm that could be caused by the accident. A frequency and severity score, agreed with the UK Rail Authority, was applied to each possible accident. A risk ranking score was then obtained by multiplying the frequency and severity scores. These risk ranking scores were then applied to a risk classification matrix that identifies a set of risk acceptability criteria, again agreed by the UK Rail Authority. The residual risks from the PHA were deemed by the Rail Authority to be acceptable.

In the U.S., Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 659 delegates fixed guideway (PRT, APM, monorail, LRT, heavy rail, cable car, and heritage trolley) public transit safety certification to the states, with a series of minimum requirements placed on each state’s regulatory agency. CFR 659 envisions mature transit systems and, accordingly, is less rigorous about “designing safety in” in comparison to the UK Rail Authority safety regime. There are 44 regulated fixed guideway systems in 27 states.

There are four important CFR 659 definitions which ULTra PRT will employ:

• Safety means freedom from harm resulting from unintentional acts or circumstances.

• Security means freedom from harm resulting from intentional acts or circumstances.

• System Safety Program Plan (or SSPP) means a document developed and adopted by the rail transit agency, describing its safety policies, objectives, responsibilities, and procedures.

• System Security Plan (or SSP) means a document developed and adopted by the rail transit agency describing its security policies, objectives, responsibilities, and procedures.

The CFR 659 process follows the same generic steps for any state, with a few customizations expected within each state implementation:

A Rail Transit Agency (RTA) is formed to operate an ULTra system

• The RTA informs the state fixed guideway safety regulator of intent to operate a fixed guideway system

• A competent, independent safety team is formed to certify the ULTra system. The state regulator is required to analyze the qualifications of the safety team and approve the team.

• A Safety Certification Plan is written and reviewed at least 12 months before approval to operate is given.

• The SSPP and SSP are written, following applicable standards. For PRT certification, the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) APM Standards, Parts I-IV should be followed.

• Once documentation is in order and commissioning has completed, a public hearing is held to grant safety certification, allowing the ULTra system to begin operation.

• Once a system begins operation, the RTA is expected to conduct internal safety audits.

This CFR 659 process can be closely matched to existing Heathrow ULTra Safety Certification documentation, with implementation-specific modifications. Many of the 361 Heathrow “hazard cases” can be copied over directly. The current Heathrow ULTra documentation is closely matched to the ASCE APM Standards and an ASCE compliance matrix was developed for BAA at Heathrow.

BAA and ULTra PRT have had representation on the ASCE APM Committee for a number of years and are active in evolving the APM standard to better comprehend PRT. Under the brick wall stop criteria, the current ASCE Standard allows ULTra to run at 2.0 second headways. These standards are excellent and the brick wall stop criterion is expected to be relaxed over time, in a measured, prudent, and conservative manner.

2. NFPA130 Evacuation

ULTra’s non-electrified passive guideway meets U.S. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 130: Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems. For NFPA evacuation requirements, ULTra passengers may exit the front of the vehicle and safely walk on the guideway. Safety rails are attached to the guideway, primarily for safety of maintenance personnel, but the rails also serve to ensure safety of evacuating passengers.

Safety References

* "FTA 49 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 659 Rail Fixed Guideway Systems; State Safety Oversight; Final Rule, " (http://transit-safety.volpe.dot.gov/publications/sso/49CFRPart659_FinalRule/SSOFinalRule.pdf ).

* “San Francisco International Airport AirTrain System Safety Program Plan, Revision 1,” August 25, 2005. 49 pages. http://www.ultraprt.com/AirTrain_SSPP_Rev_1_-_Final.doc

* “On Site Safety Audit of San Francisco Airport Airtrain,” California Public Utilities Commission (PUC), 2004. http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/word_pdf/AGENDA_RESOLUTION/41123.doc

* ASCE Automated People Mover Standards Committee: http://www.apmstandards.org/

* “Safety Certification of MUNI’s Advanced Train Control System: A View from the Trenches,” http://www.tsd.org/papers/rv3018.pdf (San Francisco MUNI)

* NFPA 130: http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=130&cookie%5Ftest=1

[JT22CW]

Hmm...didn't I see this sales pitch on another forum?

 Enough people have "personal rapid transit" with motors in the 500-hp range, too.  When the base-model Chevrolet Camaro has a V6 with 300 net horses, you know we're at the peak.  The traditional rails still work, and I have no problem using 'em when they're there...