EcoPRT Overview
EcoPRT is a new personal transportation system designed to revolutionize transportation at shopping centers, college campuses, business parks, airports and both urban and suburban applications. The design goals of EcoPRT include light weight, small footprint and low installation and operation costs.
Personal transportation represents a major pain point across the United States. Every metro area seems to face it. America's reliance on private automobiles causes the nation to spend trillions of dollars on expensive roadways and parking lots, not to mention the high cost of car ownership itself for nearly every adult in America.
Why are there for are there so few public transit systems in the United States? And why is nearly every US city plagued with traffic? It has to do with convenience and cost. This bus system at NCSU is typical. The bus arrives at 10 to 20 minute intervals. The wait wastes time and is uncomfortable in bad weather. Therefore, people hate the bus.
High cost and large size tend to discourage rail systems. Subway track can cost more than $100 million dollars per mile. Light rail track costs between $50 and $70 million dollars per mile. Even existing PRT systems have track costs around $10 million dollars per mile. At these prices it is nearly impossible to build a cost-effective and economically solution without large taxpayer subsidies.
The goal of EcoPRT is to create a new, light-weight, low-cost transportation system with the smallest possible footprint, so that it can be installed almost anywhere on existing rights of way. With a target price of just $1 million dollars per mile of guideway, EcoPRT installs quickly and can be repositioned when needed. EcoPRT vehicles are small and lightweight with a target price of just $10,000 dollars each. Because of the small vehicle size, EcoPRT stations are also small an inexpensive. They can be located at close intervals, in existing parking structures and even inside buildings.
Because of the low-cost and easy installation, EcoPRT systems are perfect for large shopping centers, college campuses, business parks, airports and both urban and suburban applications. Detailed simulation tools allow for proper sizing of systems to handle nearly any type of traffic load.
Market forces grow the system. For example, imagine a pilot system installed at NCSU. Cameron village shopping center would like to have access to NCSU's 35,000 students, so they fund a spur. Bars and restaurants downtown want traffic too. North Hills Mall links up. Then Crabtree Valley Mall wants in on the action. Each location has its own unique economic reason for funding EcoPRT guideway. The fare structure reimburses construction costs over time.
EcoPRT is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. We have already held meetings with the city of raleigh, wake county, NCSU campus architects, NCSU transportation, CAMPO, the chamber of commerce, RTP and John Kane at North Hills. The idea is naturally resonant with these groups.
EcoPRT: Privately funded. Low cost. Profitable. Growing organically. Invest in the future of transportation. For more information visit