Environment

Ultra Light Rail Transit is Disruptive Technology

Published

8 years ago

August 17, 2016

Oakland Post

Special to the Post

The politics of CyberTran International’s Inc. (CTI) Ultra Light Rail Transit (ULRT) system is thick.

“We don’t have engineering problems, our problems are political” said CTI President Dexter Vizinau.

“Thereis an institutional bias against by the status quo transit agencies, organization and groups,” he said. “When the automobile was first introduced horse traders hated it. When automated elevators arrived, elevator operators vehemently opposed it.

In 2008, BART conducted an ultra light rail study, which determined that the system cost one quarter of the expense of the BART system and half the cost to operate and maintain.

CybTran never allowed the study to be published due to proprietary information but it is available for review. BART is also PG&E’s biggest customer; it heavily taxes the grid.

Ultra light rail operates on solar and generates eight times more energy than it consumes.

Like buses, ultra light rail can go down wide major boulevards but have a smaller footprint because the trains are elevated. There are no drivers on these trains – therefore driver unions like BART’s union have issues with the technology.

Ultra light rail is less intrusive than BART or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Though it has a smaller footprint and is less costly to build it can go more places and more of it can be built. It is not always in some’s best interest to save money.

The more money spent, the more jobs are created. In April 2010, after BART lost $70 million in federal funds due to community access issues regarding the Oakland Airport Connector (OAC), Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, then the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) chair, wrote BART requesting it consider ultra light rail as a demonstration project for the airport connector.

The proposal fell on deaf ears. The OAC was built at a cost of $500 million. The cost of ultra light rail was estimated at $100 million.

The airport connector lost federal funds because it was built with no stops along the way, thereby cutting community access. Adding stops would have defeated the purpose of getting riders from BART to the airport quickly.

Multiple stations do not slow down the ultra light rail system. CybrTran’s system is direct to destination no matter where riders board and get off because their stations are not on the main line. The vehicles travel off the main line to pick up and drop off passengers.

Buses, driverless cars, bikes and shuttle services will always be great last mile solutions. But they will never be able to carry passengers over long distances, like from Oakland to Sacrament, in less than 40 minutes.

Ultra light rail trains are designed to reach speeds well over 100mph and go down major thoroughfares to highways and travel the mediums.

The California High Speed Rail (HSR) will travel at speeds over 200mph and will get riders from Los Angeles to San Francisco in just over two hours at a cost of $68 billion. Only seven stops are planned.

More stations would slow the system down. Currently, there is only $12 billion on hand to build the high-speed rail system.

Estimated cost to build a statewide network using ultra light rail is approximately $10 billion. Travel time is close to three hours on this system.

Stops do not slow the system down because the system is direct to destination.

Ultra light rail, when deployed, will expand and grow. Separate systems can be connected with lines where vehicles can travel between cities and regions.

Eventually it can be much more convenient than autos and thereby reduce oil consumption, greenhouse gases and traffic congestion.

With the help of the City of Richmond, CyberTran was able to get a federal program created to fund the demonstration of technology like ULRT.

Funds were appropriated to the program with passage of the spending bill in December 2015. The decision to release the funds is in the hands of President Obama.

CyberTran President Dexter Vizinau is hopeful that members of Congress will encourage the president to release the funding before leaving office, though institutional stakeholders want it delayed.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Related Topics:BART CTI CTI President Dexter Vizinau CyberTran International’s Inc.CybTran ULRT Ultra Light Rail Transit

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Alameda County

Electric UPS Delivery Fleet Coming to Oakland, Richmond, and SF

The project will replace the current Class 6 UPS delivery trucks with ZE battery electric vehicles. It will also install chargers at the Bay Area logistics centers. In total, 40 vehicles and chargers are coming to the facility near Oakland, another 10 in San Francisco and 10 more in Richmond.

Published

2 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Photo courtesy of the Port of Oakland.

The Richmond Standard

A total of 60 UPS delivery trucks serving logistics centers in Oakland, Richmond, and San Francisco will be replaced with electric versions as part of a partnership between the delivery business and the Port of Oakland.

The Port will use a newly announced award of $10.5 million in Environmental Protection Agency grants and $5 million from UPS to advance the fleet conversion.

The project will replace Class 6 UPS delivery trucks with ZE battery electric vehicles. It will also install chargers at the Bay Area logistics centers. In total, 40 vehicles and chargers are coming to the facility near Oakland, another 10 in San Francisco, and 10 more in Richmond.

The project will feature opportunities for green career pathways through workforce development and training.

“The Port of Oakland is grateful for additional investments to transition freight equipment and infrastructure to zero emissions,” Colleen Liang, the Port’s director of environmental programs and planning.

Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez said the “bold investment” will curb pollution, protect public health and provide good-paying green jobs.

“The City of Richmond welcomes this bold EPA investment in zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles,” Martinez said in a statement.

For more information, see the 2024 EPA Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle Grant Project.

Oakland Post

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California Black Media

Gov. Newsom Goes to Washington to Advocate for California Priorities

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation. During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

Published

1 month ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

Gov. Newsom visits the White House on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Gov.Ca. Gov

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation.

During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

“California is continuing our work to secure additional tools and resources to improve access to health care, clean air and water, and secure critical funding to support communities recovering from disasters,” said Newsom.

At the White House, Newsom met with President Joe Biden and key officials, advocating for disaster relief funding, healthcare expansion, and environmental protection. He also engaged in discussions with senior Biden-Harris officials, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, to address water quality improvements and the San Luis Dam project, which will support water supplies for two million Californians.

“Building on our strong partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration, California is working closely with the White House over the next two months to deliver the critical protections and resources our communities need,” Newsom said.

On Capitol Hill, Newsom met with California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with other Congressional leaders, to emphasize the need to approve pending disaster funding, healthcare programs, and environmental protections. He also previewed California’s upcoming special session to proactively address potential federal challenges when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

Newsom’s discussions also focused on securing Medicaid waivers from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to enhance behavioral health services and reduce homelessness. The state seeks approval for the BH-CONNECT waiver, which would address behavioral health and homelessness, and the MCO Tax Waiver, which would provide over $20 billion for Medi-Cal to improve healthcare access.

Additionally, California is pushing for Clean Air Act waivers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are crucial for enforcing air quality regulations. These measures are projected to prevent 11,000 premature deaths and provide $116 billion in health benefits over the next three decades, according to the Governor’s office.

Oakland Post

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Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

1 month ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
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