August 2020
From the President
Greetings! the US Department of Transportation just published Pathways to the Future of Transportation and are accepting comments on it up to September 28, 2020. Please review the document and comment on it or send your comments to me for incorporation with ATRA's comments.

I suggest that ATRA should comment on at least two issues as follows:
  1. The guiding principle of Technology Neutrality. While this may be a generally good principle, it runs the risk that the best transportation solutions may be counter-intuitive or extremely difficult for the private sector to develop. Personal rapid transit (PRT) is an example where city-wide systems are very difficult to get started from scratch, yet transportation agencies frequently question the scalability of small PRT deployments. In addition, the frequent references by DOT to corridors already implies a lack of technology neutrality. Technologies that function better in networks than corridors (again like PRT) are already discriminated against.
  2. The proposed $2 million in funds for the NETT Council is ludicrous in light of the fact that we spend $34 billion annually on transit buses and trains.

I understand that the latter (and, perhaps both) issue may be more a matter for Congress but feel these two issues are certainly problems to be addressed.

Email me with your input.

As always, enjoy reading!

Best regards,

Peter Muller, ATRA President
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ATRA News
PRT Subway System
by Jim Schroder
When it comes to densely packed established cities, Personalized Rapid Transit (PRT) advocates would do well to look at alternatives to an elevated track. This article is intended to spark a discussion by laying out the concepts and some of the costs for a successful underground PRT system. It should be understood that the solution described is just one of many potential underground options - a starting point for discussion and development. 
News
ASCE Virtual Technical Conference 2020
This virtual conference includes sessions on automated people movers and automated transit systems
Elon Musk’s Boring Company gets green light to expand Las Vegas Loop with Tesla vehicles
Elon Musk’s Boring Company has received the green light to start expanding its “Loop,” an electric transport system using Tesla vehicles, in Las Vegas.
 
Last year, Electrek reported on The Boring Company announcing a new proposed “Loop” system of tunnels for approval in Las Vegas.

A Boring Company Loop is an underground tunnel system in which autonomous Tesla vehicles travel at high speed to transport people.


Now let's see if this grows into a real PRT network.
Dubai's futuristic 'sky pod' system could be ready in '3 to 4 years', says CEO
Dubai has set its heart on becoming the world’s most futuristic city by 2030. A driving part of this vision is becoming an ultra-liveable destination, powered and supported by sustainable, autonomous transport options.

Chief among those is BeemCar, a UK-headquartered sky pod system with designs on hooking up the emirate’s homes and businesses to the metro network.

The firm’s CEO, Robin Brownsell, says he envisages the concept going live in the “next three to four years.”
Zoning board rules it has no jurisdiction in Jericho podway matter
BERLIN — The zoning board ruled Monday it does not have standing to hear an appeal of the city’s rejection of an application for a solar-powered podway on Jericho Mountain.

Earlier this year, David Brooks of Jericho Mountain Wind Company filed an application for a special exception to allow construction of a podway that would carry tourists and visitors to the top of the mountain in small four-person pods. Recreational facilities are allowed in the rural residential zone by special exception.
Transit system intrigues South San Francisco
South San Francisco officials found intriguing an innovative transit system they consider potentially a key piece of the puzzle connecting the city’s train station to its Bayfront job hub.

The South San Francisco City Council agreed to pay $30,000 toward a study for Glydways, an on-demand pod system that could shuttle workers from public transit stops to their offices.
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.
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