The Three A's of Transit

This discussion focuses on the "Three A's" of transit - Attractiveness, Accessibility, and Affordability - and how PRT will use them to succeed in the world of public transportation.

These three factors are one way to define how well a transit system will be able to move travelers from the automobile and into public transit.

This doesn't refer to how beautiful the infrastructure, but rather how the service compares to alternative when competing for riders. It makes little difference how environmentally advantageous or economically stimulating a transit system may be if it can't attract riders.

PRT provides choice riders (those who have the option of driving) with the following benefits:

• A private ride in a quiet vehicle, non-stop from origin to destination.
• Little or now waiting at stations
• All trip are seated, with room for a bike, packages, or pets.

No matter how attractive a system may be, if a user can't get to it, or if it doesn't go where he needs to be, he cannot ride it. This is the area covered by the accessibility criteria.

PRT provides high levels of accessibily with:

• 100's of stations across the city
• 24 hour, 7 days per week operation
• 100% ADA compliant vehicle fleet and stations

Finally, the system must be affordable for both the rider AND the transit operator to allow riders to use the system.

Affordability is provided by:

• Low capital costs of ~$10 million per guideway mile - including an average of two stations per guideway mile, and all vehicle, guideway and support structure
• Operating costs low enough to allow the farebox to cover the operating costs, with additional revenue to help offset the capital costs burden
• Low right-of-way requirements with narrow, elevated guideways and small stations