With new Metrorail Silver Line service planned for Tysons Corner (VA), planners are talking about the last-mile problem — how to provide connections between train stations, office complexes, and shopping malls in this sprawling suburban destination. In a lively back-and-forth, Greater Greater Washington has published a series of posts that examine the challenge, considering busways and personal rapid transit as alternatives to traditional bus circulators.
Arguing for PRT, Steve Offutt writes: “Making PRT work in Tysons would not only solve the last-mile problem, it would expand the value of the Silver Line to the entirety of Tysons, and the system itself would make Tysons a destination in its own right, attracting additional visitors and investors alike.” In counterpoint, Matt Johnson writes: “PRT in Tysons is not the right fit because it will not be the right kind of transformative catalyst. It will not create the pedestrian density that is a vital part of a vibrant urban area.” Both stories serve as a PRT primer, drawing examples from existing and planned systems in Morgantown (WV), Miami (FL), Detroit (MI), Heathrow Airport (UK), and Masdar City (UAE) to make their respective arguments.
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