My Very Own Monorail.Peter Bagge's comic description of Seattle's transit conundrum ("My Very Own Monorail monorail, railway system that uses cars that run on a single rail. Typically the rail is run overhead and the cars are either suspended from it or run above it. ," March) was at once sad, funny, and painfully accurate. Describing Personal Rapid Transit Personal rapid transit (PRT), also called personal automated transport (PAT) or podcar is a public transportation concept that offers automated on-demand non-stop transportation, on a network of specially-built guideways. (PRT PRT Print PRT Port PRT Portugal (ISO country code) PRT Printer PRT Provincial Reconstruction Team (Iraq) PRT Personal Rapid Transit PRT Personal Rapid Transit ) systems as "taxis on monorail tracks" gets to the heart of the matter in a hurry. While overhead, monorail-style, is the preferred route, it's certainly not the only one. Given their light weight and quiet operation, PRT vehicles could pass through apartment buildings, malls, and office buildings. Also, eminent domain eminent domain, the right of a government to force the owner of private property sell it if it is needed for a public use. The right is based on the doctrine that a sovereign state has dominion over all lands and buildings within its borders, which has its origins in need not apply to PRT projects. Existing road and utility rights of way should suffice for the guideways. Malls, apartment complexes, and office buildings will be attracted to sponsor stations and should therefore pay for them and the connection costs, though I am sure the route choices will be subject to the usual corrupt political system. Libertarians could be an important part of the development of PRT, which I consider inevitable. It is a solution and a technology whose time has come. It works well in combination with existing transit modes, it is economical, and, perhaps most important, it is desirable. If we who know the pitfalls of public control stay away from this most promising of transit alternatives, we will cede the ground to the statists who wish to use mass transit mass transit, public transportation systems designed to move large numbers of passengers. Types and Advantages Mass transit refers to municipal or regional public shared transportation, such as buses, streetcars, and ferries, open to all on a as a form of punishment for our environmental sins. Hugh A. Butler Salt Lake City, UT |
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