Personal Rapid Transit system at WVU, Morgantown

The PRT is a fairly unique transportation system; only a handful have been built nationwide since their advent on college campuses in the 60's and 70's. The automobile has totally eclipsed any alternative transit systems despite high hopes and expectations at the beginning.

I fault university policies that grossly favor the personal car for student transportation. Funding for PRT-type systems has focused on maintenance only - there is absolutely no money, or so they say, for research and development or expansion of current PRT systems.

The PRT has turned out to be grossly disappointing, and not because of any flaws inherent in the concept. It is the absence of the political will and vision necessary to effect significant changes in transportation politics that has crippled the PRT.

If we cannot look to universities and academia as wellsprings of technical innovation, and incubators for new attitudes toward energy politics, then I think the game is lost. China, your serve.