New Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure System

Our roads, railroads, and freeways have a huge detrimental effect on the quality of our lives. In addition to doing an inadequate job of providing quick, reliable, affordable, and safe transportation, the infrastructure cuts communities off from each other and discourages walking and cycling. It comprises the major urban land use and contributes significantly to storm water runoff and the heat island effect. Finally, it adds to the sensation of living and working in a concrete jungle. $20.5 billion is needed annually to eliminate the nation's deficient bridge backlog by 2028, while only $12.8 billion is currently being spent annually. The Federal Highway Administration estimates $170 billion is needed annually to significantly improve road conditions and performance, while only $91 billion is available. A transportation system comprising small driverless vehicles on exclusive and mostly-elevated guideways can provide a higher level of transportation service than driverless cars, while overcoming the flaws of the present infrastructure. The land surface could be landscaped and returned to pedestrian use. Each elevated guideway would cost less to build than a freeway lane while having a capacity of three or more freeway lanes. In addition, maintenance costs would be lower. Automated transit networks (ATN) such as described above are already in public service in the U.S. and around the world. The next generation of ATN, called the Citylink system here, will have higher speeds and greater capacity, with the potential for vehicles to leave the guideway and travel along streets in mixed traffic. Retrofitting an ATN or Citylink system into an existing community and connecting it to legacy transit systems would immediately relieve congestion and bring many benefits. In most communities, fare-box revenues will cover both capital and operating costs, allowing for a subsidy-free transit system. Much more comprehensive benefits could derive in new communities incorporating Citylink from the start.