NICHES+ is an EU funded project which studies and promotes the uptake of the most promising innovative concepts, in order to transfer them from their current “niche” position to a mainstream urban transport application. In order to demonstrate how these innovative concepts can be successfully integrated into urban transport policies, NICHES+ closely cooperates with seven local and regional authorities:  Artois-Gohelle (France), Burgos (Spain), Cork (Ireland), Daventry (United Kingdom), Trondheim (Norway), Skopje (Macedonia) and Worcestershire (United Kingdom).

One of the more “futuristic” concepts that are being studied within the project is the so-called  Group Rapid Transit. Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) is a state-of-the-art form of public transport that uses small automated electric ‘podcars’ to provide a taxi like service for individuals or small groups of travellers. Group Rapid Transit (GRT) is a new form of collective public transport using small automated electric ‘Cyberbuses’  to provide scheduled and/or demand responsive feeder and shuttle services connecting e.g. a parking lot with a major transport terminal and/or with other facilities such as a shopping or exhibition centre. Examples of Automated Transport Systems can be found in Heathrow (UK), Rome (IT), Uppsala (Sweden) and Morgantown (USA)

Masdar Eco-City Project

In Utrecht, the Dutch company ‘2getthere’ is currently developing a PRT system for the Masdar Eco-City project in Abu Dhabi. Masdar aims to be the world’s first carbon neutral, zero-waste to landfill, car-free city, powered entirely by alternative energy sources (mainly the sun). There will be no fossil fuel cars within Masdar. The city will be a pedestrian-friendly environment, with the PRT system available for longer journeys. The PRT vehicles will travel at speeds up to 40km/h, on a dedicated guideway in the undercroft, an artificial basement created by raising the pedestrian level, which will also accommodate a Freight Rapid Transit system (FRT, using the same vehicle chassis as the PRT vehicles). ‘2getthere’ are presently implementing and testing a pilot scheme in Masdar involving 1.5km of guideway, 8 standard PRT vehicles, 2 VIP i.e. luxury PRT vehicles, and 3 Freight carrying vehicles.  The safety and security features include fire detection and CCTV for monitoring inside the vehicle, obstacle detection sensors placed in front and behind the vehicle to detect persons or obstructions in the path of the vehicle, and emergency stop buttons that could be activated from inside and outside the vehicle. The vehicle also features special requirements for air condition which include doors that automatically try to close after 5 seconds, in order to keep the vehicle interiors cool, in combination with special sensors to ensure doors would not close on people or trap fingers.

Rotterdam Parkshuttle

‘2getthere’ also developed the Parkshuttle in Rotterdam, a Group Rapid Transit System operated by Connexxion, which connects the Kralingse Zoom metro station and car park with the Rivium business park. The current (2nd generation) system has been fully operational since early 2006. It involves 1.5 km of double and 0.4 km of single track guideway with 4 level (traffic) and one pedestrian crossings and 5 stops, and uses six buses, each with seats for 12 and a maximum capacity (including standing passengers) for 24. The vehicles are electric and provide clean, green, efficient and sustainable public transport with low waiting times (1.5 to 3 minutes on average). The buses run at 32km/h. The system has a capacity of 480 passengers/hour and carries 2,200 passengers per day.
Although the costs for developing and building the infrastructure and vehicles are relatively high compared to more conventional modes of collective transport – like trams, bus rapid transit or light rail – they demonstrate a number of characteristics which make them a potentially sustainable and convenient solution for urban mobility. Significant benefits include: congestion-free transport due to operating on a segregated guideway, reduced operating costs from driverless operation, the savings from the efficient use of vehicles (which are only used when there is a demand), the potential for full cost recovery from fares, low waiting times and reduced noise and environmental pollution locally from using electric vehicles.

• More on ‘Innovation in Mobility‘: Thursday 16th September 2010, Flanders Expo, Ghent: www.inspirationinnovation.be
• For more information: consult the NICHES+ brochure and guidelines for implementers at www.niches-transport.org

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