Transportation system with increased capacity

Abstract

A transport system for providing increased capacity to move individuals and freight while still accommodating the individual needs of passengers and freight movers to travel to unique destinations. The transit system including a car including a set of switching wheels that are designed to engage with a set of switching rails, the switching wheels being moveable to selectively engage with the switching rails to either maintain the car on the track or switch the car off of the track. The car having to capability to travel on the relatively high-speed track and on a conventional surface street.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 658,730 filed Mar. 4, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to transportation systems intended to reduce highway congestion and crowding, with flexibility and independent control of vehicles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Traffic congestion is a significant problem in the United States as well as in many countries throughout the world, costing many billions of dollars annually. Although some people have and will in the future alter their commuting preferences in view of the state of traffic congestion problems, there is limited willingness of many people to do so. While “telecommuting” may reduce some traffic, workers and freight inevitably will need to be transported from one location to another. The transportation system should be improved to meet the needs of today's society. [0004] Ground transpor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] The reduced headways for the cars operating on the track require automatic controls accommodating enhanced forms of freight cars and passenger coaches. While the speed of the cars may be increased above the speed of typical highways and railways today, speed is not the critical factor of the system. Rather, capacity of cars and track is the critical factor that is improved.

[0016] The improved headway is achieved by use of a specialized track for the car to run upon. In one advantageous embodiment, the track is provided with two horizontal riding surfaces spaced for stability (8.5

Problems solved by technology

Traffic congestion is a significant problem in the United States as well as in many countries throughout the world, costing many billions of dollars annually.

Although some people have and will in the future alter their commuting preferences in view of the state of traffic congestion problems, there is limited willingness of many people to do so.

While “telecommuting” may reduce some traffic, workers and freight inevitably will need to be transported from one location to another.

At this throughput level, any disturbance causes a severe disruption in traffic flow.

Such disturbances may include traffic incidents (even in the opposite lane

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