The SMARTram 21 system will use battery-electric, battery-hybrid, or catenary powered streetcars which can be manufactured by various builders in North America, Europe and Asia. Illustrated here are some of the primary features the streetcars could or should have in order to take full advantage of the SMARTram 21 synchronizaiton architecture:

Low floor level with sidewalk boarding areas

Rubber-tired wheels with 4-wheel single-track steering

Bidirectional driver cockpits

Multiple door sets for fast boarding-deboarding

Open floor plans primarily for standees

Streetcars with rubber-tired wheels offer several advantages:

1. Shorter turning radius for bypass conditions
2. Lower capital costs
3. Greater traction for steeper grades
4. Can be driven from guidelane to remote storage barns
5. Can be easily towed from guidelane if a breakdown occurs.

How would a SMARTram 21 system fit into your downtown?

Using Google Earth imaging, Village Technology is able to inexpensively create a preliminary "look" at how a SMARTram 21 system can fit into virtually any urban street in the U.S. and Canada. We can then project waiting-times, carrying capacities, and order-of-magnitude cost. This information can be packaged in a Power Point format that can be disseminated for community discussions and evaluation. For information, please contact:

John Alt
Village Technology
1-888-711-4181 Toll Free U.S. & Canada