Historical Photo Of The Month - June 2004

Morgantown People Mover
Photograph Number P-12307Bc

In 1971, the U.S. Department of Transportation Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) contracted with JPL to design and test a prototype Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system, which would connect the widely separated campuses of the University of West Virginia in Morgantown. It was hoped that these computer-operated, electric-powered systems would help reduce pollution and relieve traffic congestion -- problems that persist today in most cities.

The Morgantown People Mover was one of JPL's first Civil Systems projects, as opposed to the usual space-related projects. Boeing was selected to develop and construct prototypes of the vehicles; Bendix designed and developed the automated control and communication system; and Harris Engineering designed and constructed the guideways, stations, and other fixed facilities. The photo above shows one of the vehicles on the JPL mall, where employees were invited to participate in statistics tests. "Passengers" were ushered up onto the platform, entered and exited the vehicle, while being observed by a member of the Morgantown Project Office.

JPL withdrew from the project in 1972, when construction was completed on Phase I of the system. It began carrying passengers in 1975 and is still in use.

For more information about Morgantown, see the May/June 1971 issue of Lab-Oratory, or contact the JPL Archives.

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