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The USA is unlikely to be the first to adopt this new mode of automated freight transportation because of opposition from powerful special interests, supported by their political friends. It is much more likely to be adopted by technically advanced countries like Dubai, Singapore, Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. These countries are leading the way to innovative solutions in transportation for both freight and people. Once adopted in one or more overseas countries, the USA is bound to follow.
A major advance is to segregate the transportation of freight from the movement of people by moving freight underground where it operates without interfering with surface traffic. In this day of rapidly advancing technology, it is astonishing that we still depend on man-handled trucks which have been in use with little change for almost a century.
As the traffic volume on our highways continues to expand in the
face of an essentially static infrastructure, the implementation of TUBEXPRESS is only a matter of
time. To the extent that TUBEXPRESS will displace trucks on our highways,
the following benefits can be expected.
- Substantial reduction in the 6000 annual fatalities, along
with countless injuries and untold property damage, attributable to
the 200,000 police reported truck accidents in 1997.
- Substantial reduction in damage to roadbeds, overpasses and
bridges, 97% of which is attributable to trucks, according to the
Federal Highway Administration.
- Marked reduction in energy use. Energy requirement for TUBEXPRESS is about one third
of that used by trucks. The use of electric energy, rather than diesel
fuel, will materially reduce total oil consumption.
- Reduction in traffic congestion and exhaust pollution caused
by trucks, thereby freeing the roads and highways for automobiles
- Lower transportation costs results from automation in transit,
smaller capsule size and just-in-time deliveries, reducing warehousing
and materials handling costs.
- As there is no access to the system during transit, custodial
control is maintained, precluding pilferage and damage, lowering
insurance costs.
- TUBEXPRESS operates underground or under water, unseen and unheard, with
the system protected from the public and the public from the system.
Environmental impact is virtually none.
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