Renowned Masdar Ecocity architect Norman Foster will design the new 150-acre City of Apple (COA) Campus in Cupertino, with “an environmentally-friendly design approach that will incorporate cutting-edge technology in materials and equipment as well as renewable energy resources.
Pathways between buildings will occur underground to keep as much of the surface green as possible.” PRT can run just below ground, opening up COA for pedestrian maximisation. A PRT system could connect all three Apple campuses and provide car-free access for apartment residents to interesting places: super market, movies, coffee, noodle houses, brew pubs, etc.
Working as circulator transit for office parks, airports, universities and other major activity centers, ULTra provides a congestion free mode of transport. making carpooling, VTA bus, and Apple private bus more effective. ULTra also complements shuttle buses that connect to Sunnyvale Caltrain. PRT allows optimization and speed-up of VTA, Apple, and shuttle bus routes. PRT also enables longer bike commutes and shopping trips. iPhone apps can help glue all the green transportation options together. The PRT system should be part of VTA’s transit system, with seamless fare box/fare gate integration. The PRT system goes somewhat beyond Steve Jobs’ green vision for City of Apple , because PRT greens a larger area.