LETTERS

RI could use personal rapid transit system

Posted 9/23/14

To the Editor:

The city of Providence is considering building a 2.5-mile streetcar system that would connect the East Side of Providence with the Jewelry District. However, at $47 million per …

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LETTERS

RI could use personal rapid transit system

Posted

To the Editor:

The city of Providence is considering building a 2.5-mile streetcar system that would connect the East Side of Providence with the Jewelry District. However, at $47 million per mile, this project is much too expensive and would only make the streets of downtown Providence more crowded and dangerous.

A reliable mass transit system is needed in the Providence metropolitan area to encourage statewide economic development. However, it is obvious to anyone who has watched the morning and afternoon commute that Rhode Islanders prefer privacy when they travel. Most commuting automobiles have only one occupant.

To overcome this problem and lower the project cost, the state of Rhode Island and the federal government should take another look at Raytheon’s PRT 2000 personal rapid transit system. The vehicles in this automated, computerized, personal, rapid transit monorail system accommodated only four persons. The small size and low weight of these vehicles meant that all the other parts of the required infrastructure to build this PRT system would be less massive, less expensive and would require less construction time.  

In crowded city areas, the elevated monorail guide ways could be attached to the sides of buildings. The cost would be low and the construction time short to expand this personal transit system because it could be built parallel to existing bike paths, to existing railroad lines and to existing unused railroad rights of way. A statewide system that has the privacy provided by an automobile and the safety, reliability and convenience of a mass transit system would be feasible.

Raytheon abandoned their personal transit system 15 years ago due to the increased weight and the extra cost to make their vehicles handicapped accessible. However, recently a British company, ULTra(rapid transit), has developed a four-passenger vehicle that is handicapped accessible.  

The world’s first Personal Rapid Transit System, a 2.4-mile system using the above British vehicles, began operation at London’s Heathrow Airport in 2011. If Rhode Island decided to build a Personal Rapid Transit System, a statewide system could be up and running in five years. 

This PRT transit system would allow most Rhode Island families and tourists to safely, quickly and conveniently visit all of Rhode Island’s beaches and historical attractions.

Commuters would drive a short way to the nearest transit station, park, buy a cup of coffee and a newspaper, and relax as they are taken to their jobs in the Greater Providence Metropolitan area safely, quickly and reliably.  

The problems of getting to and from work during snowstorms will be greatly reduced.

Kenneth Berwick

Smithfield

Comments

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  • lfabian

    A new USDOT report confirms that modest installations (~10 stations) are doable today. In future years, larger ones will be within reach. To find it, simply google "MTI ATN" and you'll be able to download it.

    Tuesday, September 23, 2014 Report this

  • patientman

    Or people can ride the heavily subsidized bus.

    Wednesday, September 24, 2014 Report this

  • pmuller

    PRT has many pros and cons compared to streetcar. Three pros are that it is more affordable and expandable and that it provides much better service. A con is that it generally has to be elevated. In most situations concerns about elevated guideways can be mitigated. Visit www.prtconsulting.com to learn more about PRT and view pictures and videos of many different systems.

    Wednesday, September 24, 2014 Report this

  • falina

    What a wonderful, sensible idea, with many economical and environmental benefits. (Which unfortunately means it will never fly in a union dominated state full of cronyism and backroom deals.) But, if Buddy is elected Mayor once again, it may have a fleeting chance. However, RI is not exactly known for having common sense. If you could guarantee heavy payoffs to the officials involved, you just may be onto something great!

    Thursday, September 25, 2014 Report this