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Autonomous Elevated Cable & Rail System
Swyft Cities, a provider of advanced urban mobility systems, and the city of Sugar Land have entered into an agreement to study bringing an autonomous elevated cable and rail mobility system developed as part of a Google project to the greater Houston region for fast, convenient mobility.
As a vibrant, fast-growing city, Sugar Land is clearly on the move, and Swyft Cities implements an innovative transportation system, known as Whoosh®, that can quickly and conveniently whisk people with no waiting to destinations such as Sugar Land Town Square, Smart Financial Centre and more.
The system uses small electric vehicles that resemble conventional gondolas but use advanced autonomous technologies to move independently along a network of elevated fixed cables and rails. Vehicles are on-demand, and systems can be built at a cost far below conventional transit projects. All trips are fast and nonstop with no stops at intermediate stations.
Swyft Cities and Sugar Land have agreed to conduct an engineering schematic study to examine the potential for a Whoosh® system in Sugar Land, including concepts for potential routes and station locations, and use of public-private partnerships to minimize financial burdens and risks for the city.
Whoosh® prototypes have demonstrated low cost, an excellent user experience with great views, and environmental sustainability with zero emissions. Swyft Cities was spun out from Google into a separate business to help bring the technology to market for public transportation use.
We couldn’t be more excited to partner on a project that’s unlike anything else in the nation. Whoosh® checks all the boxes. It’s innovative, bold, and trailblazing. Our residents have told us that mobility is among their top priorities, and we are committed to being responsive to their needs by providing opportunities to invest in projects they tell us are important. But we will be just as relentless in looking for opportunities like this one to partner with state and federal funding sources to reduce the financial impact to our residents while also delivering mobility projects that support quality of life, economic development and tourism.- City Manager Michael W. Goodrum
- What is this project?
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Swyft Cities, which licenses and implements Whoosh® advanced urban mobility systems, and the city of Sugar Land have entered into an agreement to study bringing an autonomous elevated cable and rail mobility system developed as part of a Google project to Sugar Land for fast, convenient mobility.
- How does it work?
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The system, called Whoosh®, uses electric vehicles that resemble conventional aerial gondolas but uses advanced autonomous technologies to move independently along a network of elevated fixed cables and rails. Vehicles are on-demand, and systems can be built at a cost far below conventional transit projects. All trips are fast and nonstop from origin to destination with no stops at intermediate stations.
- Why Sugar Land?
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Swyft Cities is partnering with the city of Sugar Land to bring a new level of fast, convenient mobility to help support the fast-growing region. The city of Sugar Land is emerging as a global leader in implementing advanced transportation infrastructures (as evidenced by the recent announcement of a partnership with Wisk Aero for development of vertiports for autonomous air taxi operations) introducing exciting new ways to meet the City’s growing mobility needs not only for today, but for the future as well.
- How does this benefit Sugar Land?
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The project is intended to improve mobility. Our residents have told us that mobility is among their top priorities. Mobility was identified as a top priority in our most recent Citizen Satisfaction Survey.
The Whoosh network will expand Sugar Land’s pedestrian network to include convenient connections to destination centers like Sugar Land Town Square, Smart Financial Centre and more. In addition, it will support and enhance trail connections as identified in the Pedestrian and Bike Master plan, a document created with extensive input from residents.
- Will this be taxpayer supported?
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No. We are partnering with the private sector and will pursue state and federal funding.
- How does this benefit the economy?
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The project will support economic development and tourism efforts by expanding Sugar Land’s pedestrian network to include connections to destination centers like Sugar Land Town Square, Smart Financial Centre and more. It will improve mobility for Sugar Land residents, visitors and businesses to participate more fully in everything the city has to offer.
- Why is the city doing this?
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Our residents have told us that mobility is among their top priorities, and we are committed to being responsive to their needs by providing opportunities to invest in projects they tell us are important. We will be just as relentless in looking for opportunities like this one to partner with state and federal funding sources to reduce the financial impact to our residents while also delivering mobility projects that support quality of life, economic development and tourism.
- Who is Swyft Cities?
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Swyft Cities transforms cities and real estate through innovative modular transit solutions. Swyft Cities licenses and implements Whoosh® transportation technology. Whoosh provides efficient, comfortable, sustainable urban transportation with individual electrically-powered vehicles using an elevated network of cable and rail guideways. Unique flexible, lightweight infrastructure delivers cost-effective mobility ranging from small systems to expanding networks that can cover entire urban areas.
Begun as Project Swyft at Google to advance the innovative Whoosh® transportation system, Swyft Cities was spun out from Google as a separate company to help commercialize the system and bring it to the world. The Swyft Cities team has extensive experience delivering large-scale infrastructure and urban mobility projects.
- Is this transportation concept in use anywhere else?
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Sugar Land believes innovative transportation technologies are key to enabling the city to continue its growth by moving people across the community conveniently and sustainably.
Sugar Land can be one of the first cities in the US to implement this innovative, trailblazing concept, and serve as a model for how cities can innovate their urban transportation systems.
The Whoosh® transportation system is based on proven technologies. Whoosh was first prototyped as part of “Project Swyft” at Google, which demonstrated low cost, an excellent user experience with great views, and environmental sustainability with zero emissions.
Swyft Cities was spun off from Google into a separate business to help bring the technology to market for public transportation and other uses.
A Whoosh® pilot project is currently underway in New Zealand.
- What is needed from the city of Sugar Land?
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Public right of way franchise agreements and connections to transit centers.
- How long would a project like this require?
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For the initial phase, we estimate 3-6 months of planning and design, 6-8 months of permitting and procurement, 6-12 months of construction and testing, for a total of 24-32 months including certification.
- What are the next steps?
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The City of Sugar Land is continuing discussions with Swyft Cities on potential route configurations, technical details, costs and other topics. The City met with TxDOT to let them know about the project and get their feedback. They expressed positive feedback and will need to review and approve any design elements that will cross their roadways (SH6 and US 59/IH 69). A stakeholder meeting with all of the property owners affected by the project is being planned. Federal funding is being sought through our regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, H-GAC, to pay for the first steps - engineering and design of the system.
Sugar Land believes innovative transportation technologies are key to enabling the city to continue its growth by moving people across the community conveniently and sustainably. By working with Swyft Cities, Sugar Land can be one of the first cities in the U.S. to bring Whoosh transportation to people and serve as a model for how cities can innovate their urban transportation systems.
Earlier this year, the City of Sugar Land also announced a partnership with Wisk Aero for development of vertiports for autonomous air taxi operations. The results of the study with Swyft Cities are expected to be completed later this year.
For more information on Swyft Cities, visit www.swyftcities.com. For more information on Whoosh® Transportation Technology, visit https://whoosh.solutions. Whoosh® is a trademark of Whoosh Hold LP.
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Engineering Department
Transportation & Mobility Innovation Division
2700 Town Center Blvd. N
Sugar Land, TX 77479
Ph: 281-275-2780
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