Not Many People Know That You Can Take A Ride On A Historically Unique Rapid Transit System In West Virginia

Would you believe it if we told you that the first large-scale automated guideway transit system in the U.S. is right here in West Virginia? It's true! Designed as a demonstration project by Boeing, the Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) system at West Virginia University in Morgantown made history when it first launched in the early 1970s. And it's still in use today, nearly half a century later, shuttling WVU students and staff onto and around campus.

Here's what many people don't know, though: the WVU PRT is open to the public.

That's right, for mere pocket change, you can hop on a groundbreaking, historically unique Personal Rapid Transport vehicle and take a tour around Morgantown and WVU.

Electronically powered, rubber-tired vehicles built on Dodge truck chassis: 69. Stations: 5. Dedicated guideway: 8.7 miles, from the Walnut Station to the Health Sciences Station, with the Beechurst, Engineering, and Towers Stations in between. Miles traveled on that track since 1975: 35 million and counting. Rides per day: 15,000. Passenger trips since 1975: more than 83 million and counting.

These are the numbers for the West Virginia University PRT (Personal Rapid Transport) system. Pretty impressive, huh?

Here's something else impressive: the beloved WVU PRT was the first of its kind in the entire nation when it pioneered as a demonstration for Boeing.

President Richard Nixon's daughter was there to take one of the very first PRT rides. And you can still hop on one of these historic shuttles today!

Free to WVU students, staff, and faculty, the PRT only costs the general public a couple quarters per ride. The PRT typically runs Monday through Saturday during the WVU school year but is usually closed on breaks, including summer break.

Don't worry, the PRT cabs aren't usually packed this full!

Does the WVU PRT help you get where you need to go on a regular basis? If not, have you ever ridden it just for fun? Learn more about this groundbreaking personal rapid transport system on the West Virginia University website or the WVU Transportation Facebook page.