New Technology Feeder Systems Advanced Transit Association Seminar May 4-5, 2007 West Virginia University Morgantown, W V Robert Johnson R. E. Johnson Consulting Rockville, Maryland

New Technology for Small People Movers Electronics replace mechanical parts Lateral control: steers like a car On-board power supply, usually batteries Guideway is just exclusive, light duty road Often called Automated Road Vehicles New technology may not always be best (wide guideway, snow removal issues)

Examples of New Technology Vehicles ParkShuttle Minibus ULTra Personal Rapid Transit CyberCab PRT/Microbus

ParkShuttle Minibus Has carried the public on one-mile route near Rotterdam passengers 20 mph (32 kph) lead-acid batteries, recharges in off-peak

ULTra Personal Rapid Transit Vehicle Scheduled to begin service at Heathrow airport, London in 2008 Four passengers 25 mph (40 kph) Battery powered

CyberCab PRT/Microbus Designed by same company that developed the ParkShuttle 6 passengers 25 mph (32 kph)

Proposed Interior Showing Two Fold-Down Seats

At-Grade Exclusive Roadway

ULTra One-Way Elevated Guideway

Tunnel Under Cross Street

Principles of Operation Shared service, not private Minimum headway: 5-10 seconds Maximum grade: 10 % Low interior headroom means all seated, but acceleration and jerk limits set for standees –Wheelchairs not secured –Can’t be sure all passengers are seated

Two-Way Guideways Other lane is emergency walkway Two-way is not twice as expensive Direct routes reduce vehicle miles Easier to put two-way guideway at grade; must have grade separation to allow access to area within a one-way loop

End-of-Line Station Vehicles back out of berths into turn-around area

Guideway Routing Place guideways at grade whenever possible Stations at grade eliminate elevator costs Run guideways behind buildings, not in front If possible, guideways should cross streets, not run along them

Layout of Feeder Systems for the Morgantown PRT All are a single two-way line, no branches Most have stations at end points only One system also has a center platform station along the line

Four possible feeder systems for the Morgantown PRT

Research Park Extension

Sunnyside Line - Detail

Operating Parameters * Based on maximum speed of 25 mph (40 kph)

Approximate Unit Capital Costs Two-way elevated guideway: $10M / mile, not strongly dependent on vehicle weight Two-way at-grade: $1.5M - 3M / mile + land 6-passenger vehicles: $150K - 200K 20-passenger vehicles: $500K Central control: $200K ? per system, but some savings if multiple systems

Additional Data Needed for System Costs Unit capital costs for stations Site specific construction costs Unit operating costs for vehicles Other O & M costs Operating policy, for example maximum wait time in the off peak Patronage

Benefits Student / Faculty / Staff mobility Removing cars from streets improves traffic flow for all drivers Reduced need for expensive parking structures Increased value of land near stations

For more information on Automated Road Vehicles please see: