ELEVATED AND GRADE SEPARATED

CityTram cars run along their own special private and separate guideway.  This is called being "grade separated".  This is accomplished by elevating the guideway above the existing roads and sidewalks.  It means CityTram traffic does not interact with existing automotive traffic, bicycle traffic, nor pedestrian traffic down below.  This grade separation helps make CityTram travel safer. But it also makes CityTram travel immune to traffic jams on existing roads, and thus faster.

CityTram uses a suspended rail approach, meaning the car hangs below the rail.  Suspended rail systems offer less visual obstruction to the urban setting than do above rail systems.  This approach provides 20.5 feet of ground clearance below the CityTram cars.  This distance is similar to what you’ll see posted on many bridge overpasses.  It is sufficient for normal cars, trucks, and busses to pass below.  When no CityTram car is present, the clearance grows to 29.0 feet.  This extra clearance may be useful when local urban construction or maintenance is being performed. 

The CityTram rails are comprised of sections.  These light weight sections are manufactured in a factory, and transported to the install site where they are assembled together and lifted into place.  This approach lowers manufacturing costs, and it makes for very quick installation with minimal disruption of the local neighborhood.  It also means the rails can be temporarily disassembled when major construction must done in the neighborhood.