EUROPEAN PROJECTS ➤ Fourth Framework Programme ➤ EDICT

Evaluation and Demonstration of Innovative City Transport

The objective of the project was to produce a full technical, environmental, social and economic evaluation of the demonstration Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) system, together with a systematic and unified appraisal of the potential of PRT in four European cities with very different characteristics. The appraisal covered technical, environmental and socio-economic aspects in each case, and included a direct comparison with existing forms of public transport. This will enable an evaluation of the potential of the ideas for application throughout Europe.

Results of the project:
Overall the findings of the project show that PRT provides a highly accessible, user-responsive, environmental friendly transport system which offers a sustainable and economic solution for the “Cities of Tomorrow”. On paper, PRT looks much more attractive than conventional public transport, as proved in all EDICT sites. On the negative side, PRT carries a lot of risk because to date, there has been no full practical development for public use, least not in Europe. Although many public authorities are interested in the concept, as found in EDICT, not one has committed to installing such a system.