November, 2025

From the President

Greetings! Morgantown PRT's 50th anniversary is significant. I am sure it is the only driverless transit system in the world to have any (let alone 69) vehicles over fifty years old that are still in public operation. Furthermore, the guideway and station infrastructure is still sound and good for many more years. I would argue that the day it was opened, in 1975, it was already better than many light rail systems. The fact that we have ignored it for all these years is simply unconscionable.

Modern PRT with smaller vehicles (Morgantown is really group rapid transit (GRT)) can provide superior service for significantly less cost. The US invented PRT/GRT but now it seems likely the rest of the world will deploy it at scale before we do.

PodcarCity has now published their first newsletter. They will focus more on interesting articles while we focus on the latest news. You are encouraged to read both.

PS: We love you. Please join ATRA/pay your dues/volunteer.

Together we can fix public transportation!

Best regards,

Peter Muller, ATRA President

Upcoming Events

Podcar City likely in the US in early 2026. Watch this space!

Join ATRA

ATRA membership is an opportunity for you and your organization to contribute to a better world by leveraging advanced transit to improve mobility and accessibility. Membership works best for those that get involved and contribute.

Pay your dues

Send this Newsletter to a colleague

This is a FREE news summary. If it has been forwarded to you, you may want to

Join our mailing list

NEWS

DRIVING THE

FUTURE: PODCAR

CITIES AND

SMART MOBILITY

INNOVATIONS

05 - NOVEMBER 2025 | 1ST EDITION

This edition of the Podcar City

Chronicle celebrates the evolution

of sustainable urban transport

through Podcar technologies,

student-led innovation programs,

and transformative leadership. From

personal mobility experiences to

global academic initiatives and

groundbreaking ATN projects, the

journey toward smarter, greener

mobility is accelerating worldwide.

Bhoomi pujan for pod taxi project in 6 months, says Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik

Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Friday announced that the pod taxi service will link Thane Mira-Bhayandar and Navi Mumbai, and the Bhoomi pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) for project will be held within 6 months, reported the PTI.

Maharashtra Approves India’s First Pod Taxi Network Connecting Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar

The Maharashtra government has directed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) to conduct detailed feasibility studies for introducing India’s first pod taxi network connecting Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Mira-Bhayandar.

This automated, elevated transit system aims to ease traffic congestion in these rapidly growing urban areas by providing a low-emission, driverless, cable-operated feeder service integrated with metro and road transport.

The move, under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s leadership, will function on a public-private partnership model with the MMRDA as the nodal agency. Private firms have been invited to submit technical and financial proposals following initial survey work.

Maharashtra Will Soon Launch India’s First Pod Taxi Network Linking Thane & Mira-Bhayandar

India’s transport scene is evolving fast — from metros to high-speed trains, new systems are changing the way people move. Now, taking it a step further, Maharashtra is set to welcome a futuristic way of travel. The state government has approved India’s first-ever pod-taxi network, which will connect Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Mira-Bhayandar. Scroll down for more details.

Thane–Navi Mumbai–Bhayandar To Get India’s First Pod Taxi Network: Shinde Govt Clears Futuristic Transit Plan

In a significant advancement towards futuristic urban transportation, the Maharashtra government has sanctioned India’s inaugural pod-taxi network, linking Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Mira-Bhayandar. This initiative, led by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), seeks to transform daily travel and alleviate traffic congestion in one of the nation’s most bustling areas.

RAILS IN THE AIR The living legacy of the WVU PRT

The doors of the small gold-and-blue car slide open with a sigh. Inside, the seats are plain but familiar, and there exists a recognizable yet faint electrical whir. It smells a little like your grandparents’ house in the best possible way. Through the window, the Monongahela River curves like a ribbon, the hillsides rise steep and green or orange or white, depending on the time of year, and the West Virginia University campuses stretch across the small valley.

WVU celebrates 5 decades of people-moving PRT, still ‘the ride of the future’

First built at West Virginia University as an experimental project, the iconic Personal Rapid Transit system, or PRT, is marking 50 years of transporting students, faculty and staff, and visitors across the Morgantown Campus.

The University will celebrate the milestone with a series of special events Nov. 3-8.

The above links are to articles that appear relevant to advanced transit but no guarantee is made as to their accuracy and no verification of the integrity of the associated websites has been made.

Editorial comments are in italics.

| Advanced Transit Association| 720-318-4795 | www.advancedtransit.org

STAY CONNECTED

Read more ...

Bhoomi pujan for pod taxi project in 6 months, says Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik

Read more ...

Maharashtra Approves India’s First Pod Taxi Network Connecting Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar

Maharashtra Will Soon Launch India’s First Pod Taxi Network Linking Thane & Mira-Bhayandar

Thane–Navi Mumbai–Bhayandar To Get India’s First Pod Taxi Network: Shinde Govt Clears Futuristic Transit Plan

WVU celebrates 5 decades of people-moving PRT, still ‘the ride of the future’

Read more ...

Bhoomi pujan for pod taxi project in 6 months, says Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik

Read more ...

Maharashtra Approves India’s First Pod Taxi Network Connecting Thane, Navi Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar

﻿Maharashtra Will Soon Launch India’s First Pod Taxi Network Linking Thane & Mira-Bhayandar

Thane–Navi Mumbai–Bhayandar To Get India’s First Pod Taxi Network: Shinde Govt Clears Futuristic Transit Plan

WVU celebrates 5 decades of people-moving PRT, still ‘the ride of the future’

Maharashtra Will Soon Launch India’s First Pod Taxi Network Linking Thane & Mira-Bhayandar