The PRT puts the automobile on tracks. The vehicles are small, individualized, fully automated (no driver), and fully electric. But rather than coexist with the automobile, the PRT system replaces it. The tracks are
constructed over the existing roadways, thus greatly reducing the cost of construction. Traditional rail systems such as light rail cost as much as $70 million per mile! The PRT would cost only a fraction of that since the bulk of the system (the roads) already exists.
The vehicles are publicly owned and maintained - no private ownership.You don't keep a vehicle idle in your driveway, but rather summon one from the system as needed. When you get to the department store and
exit the vehicle, it automatically moves on to the next pickup location. When you're finished shopping, you simply summon another vehicle, although high traffic locations like stores would tend to maintain a line of ready-to-go vehicles, similar to a taxi line at the airport. If your visit results in a large purchase, a piece of furniture for instance, you would summon a specialized freight vehicle. Alternatively, if you were to purchase the product from home, the store would deliver the product directly to your doorstep via an unmanned PRT vehicle.
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