Imagine a city designed to be free of cars, trucks and buses, yet to include a transportation system that will whisk its residents to any destination quickly and quietly without stopping. Children, the elderly, disabled and poor would have mobility similar to that currently available to the rest of the population. The buildings could be much closer together, allowing easier walking, and/or they could accommodate more open space. The lack of accidents (personal rapid transit (PRT) is two orders of magnitude safer than current forms of transportation) would bring significant social benefits and greatly reduce the need for emergency services. Crime would be deterred, since the PRT stations and vehicles would be under constant video surveillance.
Some would argue that such a city would still need roads for emergency response, maintenance, refuse removal and large delivery vehicles. However, there are probably other (potentially better) ways of providing these services. Buildings could be sprinkled for fire suppression and equipped to facilitate emergency evacuation. Emergency personnel could utilize the PRT system, which would provide faster access than any present road system, and bring their personal gear with them. Special PRT vehicles could be equipped to accommodate gurneys and function as ambulances, while others could be equipped to support fire fighting. PRT freight vehicles could remove trash and deliver goods. Low-impact vehicles could deliver large goods by slowly driving down the pedestrian walkways, linking the buildings to each other and the PRT system. Some of the infrastructure savings could be used to fund helicopter services for extreme emergencies or exceptionally difficult movement of large items. All of these concepts need to be refined and incorporated in the new city’s building and planning codes, but none seem insurmountable.
Such a city couldbe made more sustainable by incorporating numerous additional low energy/emissions/waste technologies and yet be built for less than the cost to build a conventional city, since it would require less transportation infrastructure. Fewer PRT vehicles (and vehicle storage spaces) would be needed than the cars they replace, because each vehicle would make 50 to 100 trips per day. Even though the city cost less to build, its value would likely be higher than a conventional city. Studies have shown that the value of housing served by a good transit system is increased 6% to 45%, and commercial land values have been shown to increase 24% to 103%.
Residents would be able to purchase homes at a reduced cost and to reduce their automobile ownership. They would leave any cars they did own in parking facilities at the perimeter of the new city. Recreational vehicles would also be stored at the perimeter. Those with jobs in the new city would seldom use automobiles and thus lead much safer lives with reduced waste of time. Opportunities to use technology for improving many aspects of life, beyond just transportation, could help keep the new city almost free of crime and allow the residents to have a truly wonderful standard of living. It is finally time to take our cities back from the automobile and let them serve human needs once more.
Tags: crime, housing, low energy, parking, personal rapid transit, PRT, sustainable, transportation