CyberTran Roll Out New Concept in Automated Rapid Transit
20 October 1998
ADVISORY/CALSTART, CyberTran Roll Out New Concept in Automated Rapid Transit
Good Photo OpportunitiesClean, Low-Cost, Flexible Transit Concept
Begins Test Phase At CALSTART'S Project Hatchery(TM)
Facility in Alameda, California
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What: The CyberTran transportation system--part of a new, automated
rapid transit concept--initiates its proof-of-design test
program on one mile of track at Alameda Point. An advanced
transportation project of CALSTART, CyberTran is a new
concept in flexible rail that uses many small, electrically
powered vehicles to transport 6 to 32 passengers to specific
destinations.
Where: CALSTART Facility, Alameda Point (Former Alameda Naval Air
Station) 2701 Monarch Street (Hangar 20) Alameda, California
When: Wednesday, October 21 10:30 a.m. Roll-out
Who: Congresswoman Barbara Lee (invited); Alameda Mayor Ralph
Appezzato; Leslie Rodgers, Regional Administrator, Federal
Transit Administration (FTA); Richard Arthur, CyberTran;
Michael J. Gage, President & CEO, CALSTART; and other
members of the project team.
Visuals: The streamlined CyberTran vehicle will make its operational
roll out along its new one-mile test track, with San
Francisco as the background. It will also be available for
inspection and boarding. Additional footage of the vehicle
will be available on request.
Background:
Increases in air pollution and congestion--and a rapidly growing vehicle population driven more miles each year--makes finding solutions to personal transportation one of the most important challenges facing metropolitan areas. Rail cars in the CyberTran system are demand responsive-stopping only at stations where passengers order them. By utilizing computer control and "smart card" technology, they transport riders directly to their destinations at speeds of up to 150 MPH, bypassing intermediate stations and minimizing unnecessary stops. The 38-foot vehicles are designed to run down the median strip of a freeway or in other small areas. Light weight and smaller size means the cost of constructing the guideway, power systems, and stations needed to support the vehicles is up to 75% less than that of traditional light rail design. CyberTrans' proximity to Silicon Valley provides an important link to computer technology essential to the completion of the project.