U.S. Patent Nos. 5,676,059 & 7,082,879 & Canadian Patents Pending

SMARTram 21 synchronizes the movement of streetcars so they can share a single, narrow, dedicated guidelane.

The synchronization creates short headways (about 2.5 minutes at maximum capacity) and high people-moving capability (up to 2880 people/hour/direction.) The maximum number of streetcars that can operate is one less than the total number of Stop-Boarding Areas.

The Synchronization Logic ensures that oppositely moving streetcars always arrive at a mutual Stop-Boarding Area at the same moment. This enables them to bypass each other without any delay or wait, creating a seamless movement with extremely high convenience. At each end of the route, the streetcars simply reverse direction. At end-stops, cars can easily be added or removed from the system to coordinate capacity with peak and off-peak demands.

The synchronization logic allows the distances between Stop-Boarding Areas to be varied--enabling them to be sited for optimum convenience--while still maintaining synchronous arrivals. The logic can also be optimized to coordinate with signalized intersections.

Even though SMARTtram 21 streetcars operate independent of local traffic, the drivers must still anticipate J-walking pedestrians, or local vehicles turning across the guidelane to access curbcuts. The streetcars will therefore be slowing and stopping occasionally to ensure safe interactions with pedestrians and traffic.

The patented SMARTram 21 Logic coordinates these random delays and consistently maintains the synchronous arrival of the streetcars at their mutual Stop-Boarding Areas. The short, elevator like headways combine with the bidirectional arrivals at each Stop-Boarding Area to create a streetcar 3-5 times more convenient that conventional systems.

• At maximum capacity, waiting times (headway) can be as short as 2.5 minutes. (Compare with 10-15 minutes for a typical streetcar operating in local traffic.)

• At each arrival, a pedestrian can board a streetcar going in either direction from the same boarding area.

• Even during the peak traffic congestion of rush hours and special events, the SMRrTRAM Streetcar always has a clear guidelane ahead of it.

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 SMARTtram 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