Mandaue City, Cebu (Google maps)
CEBU CITY — A feasibility study was launched to construct the country’s first suspended transport system that will be built in Mandaue City, Cebu.
Futran (or Future of Transport) Philippines, Inc. signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Mandaue City government on February 27, for a feasibility study for this type of modern mass transportation system that is currently being used in China, Japan, and Germany.
The company wishes to build the first suspended podcars in the country, according to a statement released Tuesday, March 21.
In its video presentation, Futran showed what podcars looked like.
The cars are suspended on top of the roads and it works just like trains except that it has beams as tracks and runs on-demand as opposed to an on-schedule system.
The Futran Podcar system is a Suspended Automated Transit Network with vehicle capacities of up to 20 passengers.
“The system does not interfere with the existing traffic below and can easily blend into the city,” said Futran Philippines President Jose Christopher “Joey” Fornier II.
Because the system is a 100 percent green concept, it will use solar energy to energize and power it. Solar panels will be deployed on top of every beam that will power every podcar.
The safety and reliability of the Futran Transport System will be managed by Germany’s TUV Rheinland, a world-renowned Technical Service Provider and Certification Body.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes welcomed the six-month feasibility study. If the plans push through, it will ease traffic in his locality.
Mandaue City is located north of Cebu City. It is the main access route towards northern towns and cities and two bridges connecting Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island, where the Mactan-Cebu International Airport is located.
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