This month's news includes potential projects in Dubai, UAE, Herzliya, Israel, Cape Cod and Greenville, USA. Will one of these be the next to break ground? I wouldn't bet on it. There are a number of projects being developed behind the scenes as well as some that have been previously mentioned, any one of which could be next. 2getthere has an MOU in Taiwan for a substantial GRT system. Does this count as having "broken ground"?

Check out the right hand column for website updates, upcoming conference information and links to ATRA's Facebook and Pinterest pages.

As always, enjoy reading!

Best regards,

Peter Muller, ATRA President

Date: May 20th  at 15.00pm UTC/GMT

We are now accepting nominations for the ATRA Award for Outstanding Contribution to Advanced Transit. The award acknowledges individual contributions towards awareness, development, planning, operation or acceptance of Advanced Transit.   Read More...

Firm seeks public input on proposed automated transit network

By Bill Poovey  

The top executive of a company competing to develop and operate an automated transit system in Greenville County is asking for input from prospective users. Taxi 2000 is among four companies planning to present proposals by June 1. Mike Lester - the Fridley, Minn.-based company's CEO - is seeking public feedback using an online survey and said he is meeting with Greenville area businesses to gauge interest and help predict usage.  Read More... 

RTA awards Dh475m Bluewaters Island bridges contract

By Staff/Emirates 24/7

Project is undertaken in cooperation with Meraas Holding. 

The Board of Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), chaired by Mattar Al Tayer, has recently awarded a contract for the entrances of Bluewaters Island, which will be undertaken by the RTA in cooperation with Meraas Holding at a cost of Dh475 million.   Read More...

Dubai constructs bridges to $1.6bn tourism island

By CW Staff 

Dubai's transport authority on Saturday said it has awarded a AED475 million ($129.3 million) contract  for the construction of bridges linking the Bluewaters Island tourism mega project to the mainland.  The Roads and Transport Authority said construction work  has begun on the entrances to the island, which will be located just off the Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR) coastline.  Read More...

Dubai's Dh475 million Bluewaters bridge project gets driverless car link to Sheikh Zayed Road 

By Lucy Barnard

A bridge building boom is set to boost transport links in Dubai as city planners race to keep pace with population growth.

It comes as work on the futuristic Dh475 million Bluewaters Bridge gathers pace.  The bridge, which will link the Dh1.6 billion Bluewaters Island tourism megaproject with Sheikh Zayed Road, will include two lanes designated for a driverless electric car system to the Nakheel Harbour & Tower metro station.  Read More...

Company hopes to bring modern transportation option to Greenville

FOX Carolina

Taxi 2000 said their proposed project would require only private funding and no tax dollars would be used in the implementation.  The Skyweb Express by Taxi 2000 incorporates an automated fleet of personal electric vehicles that run on elevated guide ways. Read More...

CAREERS AND JOB OPENINGS

From 2getthere

There are many careers in automated vehicles, so why should you be interested in working at 2getthere? You should if you like working on the state of the art robotics and AI technology. On applications across the globe. Our vehicles are designed and engineered in-house.  Read More... 

ecoPRT first outside test

YouTube Video:  Watch Here...

Spartan Superway May be the Ride of the Future 

By Robin McElhatton

Inside an old, plain building in downtown San Jose, dozens of students are busy working on a futuristic transportation system.  "We are inventing, developing, and demonstrating a new paradigm in urban transportation, sustainable urban transportation since our system is going to be 100 percent solar powered and grid tied," said Burford "Buff" Furman...Read More...

Israeli city of Herzliya will be the first to run an in-city SkyTran

By Haila Haimovitch

On Thursday, the Herzliya municipality announced that it is partnering with SkyTran to build an aerial cable car based on magnetic technology that will hover over the city. This project was originally developed by NASA to help improve the city's public transportation within a few years, and perhaps ease every day traffic.  Read More... 

'Your Robot Chauffeur Awaits'

By Michael J. Rausch

For anyone who finds the walk from an airport parking lot to the ticket counter inside the terminal to be tedious or laborious, help may be on the way.  Read More... 

An easier way to get around: Inventors turn to Kickstarter to fund auto-transport project 

By Lorelei Stevens CAPE COD TIMES

EAST FALMOUTH - After four years of forging partnerships and conducting research, a local team working to develop a driverless transportation system has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to build a prototype.  Read more...