70's-Era Personal Rapid Transit System Still Operating in West Virginia

The only true PRT in the United States, the system serves 15,000 students of West Virginia University each day when school is in session. Some even credit the school's growth to the effectiveness of the PRT.

1 minute read

July 5, 2011, 7:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Tod Newcombe pays a visit (and takes pictures) of WVU's personal rapid transit system, operating since 1975.

Newcombe writes:

"A major reason for the PRT's success is its ability to move large numbers of students to multiple destinations relatively quickly and avoid the traffic congestion that plagues the narrow streets of Morgantown."

The system was actually built by Boeing as a research project, and "...virtually every aspect of the PRT was original when it was built", which makes it expensive to repair and maintain.

Monday, July 4, 2011 in Governing Magazine

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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