Benefits:
1. Energy Efficiency: Aerial people movers use less energy per passenger mile than any other form of mass transportation. A car with only the driver consumes about 5,500 BTU/passenger mile. A passenger on both a light rail system and an inner city bus system use about 3,500 BTU/passenger mile. When a aerial people mover is operating at 1/2 of maximum capacity, the energy usage is about 400 BTU/passenger mile. A pedestrian burns about the equivalent amount of energy as riding on a aerial people mover.
2. Capacity: The most cost efficient aerial people mover uses 8 passenger carriers. With this size carrier, the system can transport 2800 passenger per hour in each direction. This is equivalent to one hundred and forty passenger buses per hour or a bus leaving each terminal every 52 seconds.
3. Service Level: One of the unique characteristics of aerial people movers is its vehicle headway. An eight passenger carrier leaves each terminal every 10 seconds. Unlike many transit systems, passengers continually load the system as quickly as they arrive. This minimal headway allows you to enter the system on your schedule and not the transit schedule.
4. Pollution: Aerial system's efficient use of energy minimizes the pollution emitted. The system uses an electric motor that emits no pollution along the alignment.
5. Service Consistency / Reliability: Aerial systems operate independent of vehicular and pedestrian congestion. The systems run in continual motion and operate at a consistent speed in rain, snow and all but the most severe weather conditions.
6. Low Construction Costs: Construction cost for a fully functional aerial people mover with standard terminals averages $8 million per mile. Light rail cost range from $17 to $100 million per mile with an average of $35 million per mile.
7. Construction Disturbance: Aerial people movers are manufactured products. The
only on site construction is the tower and terminal foundations. Once the foundations
are completed, towers can be set in a matter of hours. The terminals are pre-
8. Ground Disturbance: The typical tower spacing is about 350 feet. The only ground disturbance is at the tower and terminal locations. Land can continue to be utilized as long as it does not interfere with carrier clearance. The system can be installed along existing boulevards without modifying traffic patterns.
9. Low Operating Costs: With automated ticketing systems the aerial system may be operated by one attendant at each terminal.
19. Low Maintenance Costs: The systems have a very long life span. Similar systems at ski areas have been operating for more than 40 years. Since the system is manufactured from components, they can be replaced when worn or upgraded as technology changes.
11. Obstacles: An aerial people mover's tower configuration allows it to pass over rivers, highways, low buildings, valleys and rail yards without expensive rigid structures or modifications to existing features.
12. Noise Pollution: The noise generated by the system is virtually unnoticeable. The movement of the rope over the towers is the only audible noise outside of the terminals.
13. Speed of Implementation: The typical system can be completed in about one year.