At 05:58 PM 9/27/2000 -0500, Greg R. wrote:
>
> Exactly. Why build a completely new roadway when we can leverage
>what we already have? Yes, sometimes it is good to start anew, but a
>surface-level road-system is preferrable over a raised-level
>road-system; raised-level systems incur significant handicapped-access
>issues and costs.
The problem with "at-grade" automated solutions, as they call them, is that
they need to work with existing traffic. "Jonny Cabs" would have to stop
and start at traffic lights and wait in traffic jams. This doesn't solve
the traffic problem.
Additionally, an at-grade system has many costs that an elevated system
would not: for instance, we would need to build the PRT vehicles to withstand
potential side-impact collisions. This would make them far heavier than they
would otherwise be.
Handicap issues are very well addressed with a simple elevator in every
station, a cost which has been budgeted by the folks at Taxi 2000. Their
PRT design is completely handicap-accessible.
> Personally, I think we'll see 'Jonny Cabs' before we see a fully
>deployed PRT system. If we start now, we /might/ have a fairly complete
>PRT system in Minneapolis by the time 2020 comes around. At that time,
>analysts are predicting that fuel cell technology will be fairly
>mature. Combine that with the increase in a) computer power, and b) the
>explosion of wireless networking, and you have a ready-made environment
>for exactly that kind of 'Jonny Cab'.
It's true it will take a while to build a metrowide network, but PRT would
be cost-effective and reduce at least some congestion from the very first
line built.
I'm all for getting into these other technologies. Some of them could be
very promising. Imagine what clean-burning fuel cells could do for our
air quality! But PRT can be built with off-the-shelf components today,
and can make a positive difference from the first line built. It's the
best transportation innovation I've found that we're capable of building.
> A futureist thought for the day: If you had the choice between a
>PRT-ride to your destination, or a 'Jonny Cab' ride that can pick you up
>at your front door-step, which would you take?
Depends on the cost and the speed, doesn't it? If the Jonny Cab has to go
through the same streets and traffic that I would driving my own car, and
if it was more expensive to use because of weight, stopping & starting, and
other inefficiencies, I expect I'd go for faster, safer, cheaper PRT.
--
Steven C. Anderson 612-722-6658 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The Independence Party Candidate for Minnesota Senate, District 62
http://www.SteveAnderson.org/
