APTA claims to speak for US transit. Strangely, it has little to say about full automation, and more specifically about driverless metros. Can we expect better from the USDOT or Congress?
Brussels-based UITP makes clear statements about the safety and capacity-enhancing benefits of full automation. The European Union has awarded $20 million to fund a center of expertise in driverless metros in Paris, with collaboration from the RATP (Paris transit authority) and Alcatel-Lucent. Bold plans are underway to ring the city-on-the-Seine with a working-class transformating driverless ring. Copenhagen plans are perhaps more advanced in a similar Ringen on a smaller Scandanavian scale.
When APTA official Charles Joseph was recently asked about APTA's attitude toward driverless metros and ATN feeding appropriate metro stations, he had nothing to say. Instead he off-shored the question to Honolulu, where construction has begun on an elevated metro that maybe will be driverless. Press releases don't mention it. Consultant Simon Zweighaft does - loudly and clearly. He helped build the Miami DPM and has done a lot in the real world of transit outside the Beltway.
Maybe there should be a T-Party -- more adept than the Tea-Party - but responding to the Beltway dysfunction that we all feel.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
New Year Energy Burst
ATN concept such as this one for Montgomery County MD are popping up all over! -courtesy of Bob Johnson
On January 10, the mayor of Huntsville AL will unveil plans for CBD redevelopment that include a simple three-station APM. Huntsville Hospital and its APM experience offered some technical assistance. If well received, the plan may migrate to a larger, more complex solution.
On January 11, PRT thinkers and schemers will gather at the University of Maryland to examine applications studies and an surprisingly active field on interest in innovative transportation at ATRA's Technix workshop.
On February 2, during the Super Bowl games that take place in NJ Meadowlands near Secaucus, new Amtrak stops at the decade-old Secaucus Junction transfer station will be added. Jpod will demonstrate the potential of solar-powered PRT. In the background, a stalled mega-mall on par with Minnesota’s Mall of America may break ground.
In Greenville SC, green village development strategies and multi-modal stations ideas are advancing under the inspired leadership of Fred Payne, an elected county economic development director, in a region where vehicle manufacture and research is a big part of the economy.
On February 9, Kirkland WA will hold a community visioning workshop to explore options for a rail right-of-way for walk/bike paths, parks, possibly PRT or other transit. Google and Microsoft are major players.
All of them will hear that the next Podcar City -- PCC8 -- conference will take place September 3-5 at Stockholm’s major airport with participation with two adjacent suburbs on Sweden’s airfront to the world, halfway between Stockholm and Uppsala.
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