Miami-Dade now plans Personal Rapid Transit for Beach link
After 15 years of Baylink talks, the rapid-transit corridor linking Miami Beach to downtown has been resurrected, but it doesn’t look anything like old plans. Rather than plant heavy, expensive rails, Miami-Dade commissioners say Personal Rapid Transit [PRT] vehicles of four to six people can solve Beach traffic and also draw more tourists.
“The future of transit isn’t mass transit,” said Mayor Carlos Giménez, “it’s PRT.”
At a meeting between Commissioners Xavier Suarez and Bruno Barreiro last week to discuss Baylink, stakeholders learned more about PRT, which county officials described as a cheaper, lighter rail with a smaller footprint.
PRT uses personalized autonomous trains. Riders can program the driverless trains to take them directly to their destinations rather than make every stop. Mayor Giménez is a big proponent, saying the individual trains have bi-passable stations that keep riders from halting at every stop. “I like the point-to-point system; it’s much faster than a car.”
Recent data show the average car speed in Miami-Dade is about 16 miles per hour, while the PRT trains would run about 28 mph.
Unlike traditional rail, PRT trains are light-weight, fully electric, and the elevated tracks are half the width of bus lanes or traditional rail.
The individual cars can hold four to six people and trains can connect so groups of riders can link up to arrive at their final destination together. Though capacity is much less than traditional rail, trains are more frequent, so commuters can board continuously.
The system can also be programmed to move more trains to stations that are in higher demand during peak hours.
The trains have the option to be dual mode and could leave the rail, navigate city streets autonomously, and later joining up with the railway again.
“I’m a big fan,” said Transportation and Public Works Director Alice Bravo of PRT at the sunshine meeting.
PRT costs about one tenth the price of traditional rail, with Metrorail costing the county about $100 million per mile and PRT less than $10 million. In Greenville, SC, a bid was submitted for only $6.3 million to service its airport.
Mr. Barreiro suggested the MacArthur Causeway for PRT rails, saying “it’s the path of least resistance.” The first stop, he said, would be Watson Island, with the second at Fifth Street and Alton Road.
County renderings identify MacArthur Causeway as the corridor, one beginning near the Omni station and the other starting at the Brightline rail tracks further inland, with both ending at Fifth and Alton.
Asked about competition to build the rails, Florida Department of Transportation District Six Secretary James Wolfe said a similar project in South Carolina had three qualified bidders.
Mr. Suarez said the PRT could become a hot spot for tourists and the county could capitalize on the attraction by having separate rates for residents and tourists. “We could light it up and make it high in the air to draw tourists here,” he said.
Mr. Suarez said he will have a sunshine meeting with Commission Chairman Esteban Bovo Jr. next to have a more “in-depth dialogue” and discuss next steps.
BFW
March 2, 2018 at 2:02 pm
Dade will never get any Transit improvements. Gimenez wasted TWO years and Million$ on the Hitachi rail cars with his fantasy. He is a Dreamer, his legacy will be nothing, zero, zilch, NADA.
Candela
March 3, 2018 at 5:41 pm
Personal Transit Pods, Sounds like an idea from someone who may feel very uncomfortable of riding a train that’s full with strangers!
Man-up and Stop complicating everything. Expand our freaking Metrorail Infrastructure NOW!
Ed
March 6, 2018 at 4:30 pm
I think without dreamers, we would still be doing things as they were done 2000 years ago. I value anyone who has innovative ideas, especially when the ideas are about lower cost, more sustainable, and dramatically safer transportation. That’s what we have with this PRT proposal.
What was the Renaissance about? Exactly these qualities.
If ever there was a time for a new Renaissance like this, its NOW.
There were more than 40,000 traffic fatalities in the USA in 2016 and over 800,000 serious injuries many causing lifelong disabilities. Isn’t it time to do something safer like PRT that separates the different transport modalities and avoids such tragic crashes?
Our planet faces an existential crisis for humans. Yet those who love burning petroleum fuels have effectively blocked changes. Isn’t it time we wake up to this situation and develop transportation that is solar powered?
PRT building costs are 1/20th the cost of light rail and 1/5 the cost of new highway lanes. Isn’t it time we start doing affordable things LIKE THIS instead of the massive boondoggles?
Just saying…….