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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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

2 weeks 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.

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Business

Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order to Tackle Rising Electric Bills

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order to help alleviate the financial burden of skyrocketing electric bills on residents. This directive instructs the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Energy Commission to identify strategies to lower electricity costs and prevent rapid increases in the future.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 6, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Among the key actions proposed, the governor emphasized a closer examination of utility expenditures related to wildfire mitigation, which accounts for about 13% of residential electric bills.

Newsom underscored the state’s commitment to balancing affordability with environmental goals.

“We’re taking action to address rising electricity costs and save consumers money on their bills,” said Newsom. “California is proving that we can address affordability concerns as we continue our world-leading efforts to combat the climate crisis.”

California now has the second-highest electric rates in the country, trailing only Hawaii, with residential bills having surged as much as 110% over the past decade. The largest utilities, including Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, have seen rate hikes of 20% to 50% in just the last three years, approved by the state’s regulatory bodies.

The executive order also directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to explore increasing the California Climate Credit, which provides some relief on energy costs for residents. Additionally, the PUC is urged to pursue federal funding opportunities to further reduce electric expenses.

While consumer advocates welcomed the governor’s focus on lowering costs, concerns were raised regarding potential cuts to essential clean energy programs. CALPIRG, a consumer group, pointed out that the real issue behind high utility bills is wasteful spending by utilities and urged greater accountability.

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

California Ports to Receive Over $1 Billion in Federal Funds to Decarbonize

Last week, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will allocate over $1 billion to seven California ports for zero-emission (ZE) infrastructure and climate management plans. In an Oct. 29 press release, Padilla said this funding, part of the EPA’s Clean Ports Program and supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality at ports nationwide.

Published

2 weeks ago

November 6, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

In an Oct. 29 press release, Padilla said this funding, part of the EPA’s Clean Ports Program and supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality at ports nationwide.

Among the grants, the Port of Los Angeles received over $411 million, the largest award in the country. California ports are vital to the national economy, handling about 40% of containerized imports and 30% of exports.

“California’s ports move the goods that power our economy. This historic investment in our ports is a major step forward in accelerating the zero-emission infrastructure transition,” said Padilla.

Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka and fellow port officials echoed Padilla’s sentiments, with plans to acquire over 400 pieces of ZE cargo handling equipment, reducing emissions by 41,500 tons annually.

“This transformative investment will be a tremendous boost to our efforts to meet our ambitious zero emission goals, improve regional air quality, and combat climate change while accelerating the port industry’s transition to zero emissions across the country,” said Seroka.

Other ports, including Oakland, Stockton, San Diego, and San Francisco, will also use their grants to transition to ZE operations, improve regional air quality, and create job opportunities.

The EPA’s funding will support various projects, from electrifying cargo terminals to establishing the first high-speed zero-emission ferry network in the U.S. Ports will collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure these investments benefit their surrounding communities.

The port of Hueneme in Ventura County and the Port of Redwood City on the Southern San Francisco Bay will also receive funding, respectively.