World's Only Personal Rapid Transit System May Expand

" 'I would hate to see Morgantown without the P.R.T. system,' said Mayor Ronald Justice. 'We're a small town with big traffic issues, and the P.R.T. could be the reason we're able to continue our growth.'

"Originally built to shuttle students and employees between West Virginia University's two campuses, which sit two miles apart, Morgantown now sees it as more than just a way to get students to class on time. With commuting times increasing in the region, the university, which operates the system, is considering expanding it.

"The two leading proposals are an extension at the southern end of the line along the Monongahela River into the Wharf District, which city officials hope will be a mix of hotels, restaurants and retail shops; another would go farther north into the research park the university is developing, an area that could become home to a distant park-and-ride facility."

"Despite the early missteps, the P.R.T. in the years since has become a symbol of reliability, never having caused a serious injury and running 98 percent of the time."