innovative transit technology
Personal Rapid Transit (PRT)
The AACIDs are committed to creating an economically strong, safe, attractive and vibrant community surrounding the world’s most-traveled passenger airport. We are a catalyst for infrastructure enhancement through new investments, project planning, resource management and partnership development. We seek to raise the collective value of our community’s commercial properties while making the CIDs a destination for new businesses, residents and visitors.
Our Vision
We have a vision for technological innovation that will improve the quality of life and mobility for property owners in and around the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. One cutting-edge solution for mobility is the use of Personal Rapid Transit (PRT). This is a safe, cost-effective mode of transportation using small modes called podcars, that are used to transport passengers between designated locations. When compared to other modes of transportation PRT is most the affordable and adaptable.
Transportation Comparison
The cost per mile to build is listed for each below.
Highspeed Rapid Transit (HRT)
$300 Million/Mile (MARTA Trains)
Lightspeed Rapid Transit (LRT)
$150 Million/Mile (Atlanta Street Car)
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
$50 Million/Mile (Metro Rapid in Los Angeles)
Personal Rapid Transit
(PRT)
$10-$20 Million/Mile (Heathrow)
Our Plan
We will begin a 6-12 month PRT Comprehensive Study and a 12-36 month Demonstration Center and System in 2021. In order for this plan to be impactful we will consider the following opportunities:
- Identify funding partners from public and private sectors
- RFP to select consultant
- Include public and private stakeholders and academia
- A potential route to be implemented within South Fulton County and Clayton County
- Investigate PRT vendors and system
- Document potential ridership, demand, construction, operations and maintenance costs
- Show comparisons between HRT, LRT, and BRT
- P3 Initiative
- RFP process to select PRT vendor
- Connections between HJAIA terminals and local destinations
AACIDs PRT Advisory Group
The following individuals have agreed to support the idea of PRT in South Metro.
ATL Airport Community Improvement Districts
Gerald McDowell, Executive Director
Krystal Harris, Program Director
Atlanta Regional Commission
Sidney Douse, Senior Planner
Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority
Cain Williamson, Chief Planning Officer
Clayton County
Jeffrey Turner, Chairman
Erica Rocker-Wills, Economic Development Officer
Delta Airlines
Jae Kullar, GM Global Health & Wellbeing
Andrew Malgieri, Director Corporate Real Estate
Georgia Department of Transportation
Kaycee Mertz, Rail & Transit Planning and Environmental Manager
Jihyun Park, State Safety Oversight Program Manager
Ashley Finsh, Senior Rail/Transit Planner
Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Srinivas Peeta, Chair & Professor Transportation & Engineering
Dr. Michael Hunter, Transportation Systems Engineering Smart Cities
Dr. Alexander Samoylov, Air Quality & Transportation Systems, Policy Analysis and Analytics
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Tom Nissalke, Assistant GM of Planning & Development
Jerry Riley, Program Management Officer
Lynn Smith, Director of Real Estate & Commercial Development
Michael Smith, Airport Senior Deputy General Manager
MARTA
Jeff Parker, CEO/General Manager
Tyrene Huff, Manager
Porsche Cars North America
Daniel Barcham, Director Head of Corporate Real Estate & Facility Services
PRT Consulting
Peter Muller, President