Stanford Research Park Transformation - summary

The offices of the Stanford Research Park are transformed into easily accessible workplaces. 8,000 out of 28,000 daily Palo Alto auto commuters will change mode to Caltrain, carpool/vanpool, bicycle, and bus. A self-funding elevated personal rapid transit (PRT) system will interface to existing travel modes, making them significantly more effective. PRT accommodates the complex travel needs of technology workers, providing a higher level of service and convenience than auto travel. Previously, non-SOV (single occupancy vehicle) commuters had been stranded at work during the middle of the day. Now these same people will reach a wide variety of restaurants, shopping, professional services, workouts, and errands, without the parking hassles.

Hourly workers will benefit from improved access to better jobs and from reduced commute time, increasing their family time. PRT runs 24x7 with virtually no waiting, serving swing and graveyard shift jobs. Working in conjunction with other transit modes, PRT enables a lifestyle with less auto dependency, reducing the high cost of buying, maintaining, fueling, and insuring a car.

Unused parking spaces will be reclaimed for attractive, affordable transit village housing units with first floor retail. Housing will be prioritized for Research Park employees, Palo Alto teachers, and Stanford employees. Housing design will improve upon some of the most vital, livable neighborhoods in San Francisco. Bicycle and pedestrian pathways will further enhance the corridor.

Citywide particulate and green house gas emissions will be reduced by about 20%. Polluted run-off into wetlands/bay will be reduced. Property values will increase. Corporations will enjoy a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining workers, saving $11.5M per year for every 1% reduction in employee turnover costs.

PRT consists of many lightweight, driverless, four-person electric vehicles traveling on a monorail 16' above the ground. Transit stops are located by the front entrance of buildings. Frequent stops are situated along the route to minimize walking once the trip ends. Transit stop tracks are separated from the main track - vehicles turn off onto a siding to pick up and drop off passengers. Because of these turn-offs, vehicles travel non-stop to the destination at 30 mph, bypassing intermediate stops and speeding at twice the average speed of autos on the congested roads below. Vehicle weight minimization reduces the size of the elevated rail and supporting piers, dramatically reducing construction cost and right of way acquisition. Vehicles flow through the rail almost like data packets on the internet, anticipating demand so that wait time is eliminated.