• 60%
    1 vote
  • Rate this episode
    What did you think?
  • 2
    watchers
  • 3
    plays

It's History: Season 8

8x255 Why Pennsylvania's Skybus Totally Failed

  • 2024-02-01T05:00:00Z on YouTube
  • 10m
  • United States
  • Documentary
The lost Skybus of Pittsburgh represents a fascinating chapter in the city's transportation history. In the 1950s, urban planner and engineer Charles C. Sprague envisioned an innovative solution to alleviate traffic congestion by introducing an automated, high-speed transit system called the Skybus. The system consisted of driverless electric vehicles suspended from elevated tracks. Despite initial enthusiasm and a successful prototype, the project faced numerous challenges, including financial setbacks and skepticism from the public. Ultimately, the ambitious Skybus project was abandoned in the 1960s, leaving behind a few remnants of its infrastructure and a legacy of unrealized potential in revolutionizing urban transportation in Pittsburgh. The lost Skybus stands as a testament to the city's willingness to explore cutting-edge solutions and the complexities that sometimes accompany ambitious endeavors.
Loading...