Glydways
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An effort to connect a 3.5-mile gap between San Jose Mineta International Airport and Diridon Station may get a Star Trek-like solution.
Despite skepticism from transit enthusiasts and the local bus unions, San Jose councilmembers on Tuesday gave their initial approval on what could ultimately become an army of robotic shuttles ferrying passengers between the two travel hubs at a cost of up to $500 million. The project, which could get underway by 2028, comes as the city’s airport and Diridon Station experience increased demand but no efficient public transit option to link them. It currently takes two buses or an Uber to make the journey.
In its unanimous approval on Tuesday, the council voted to explore working with a local startup called Glydways, whose driverless shuttles would carry up to four passengers on a designated driveway at a maximum speed of 31 miles per hour. Since the shuttle would run at a continuous speed, officials from Glydways said the journey could take around eight minutes — as opposed to the roughly half-hour bus ride.
The roughly 200 shuttles would stop at Terminal B — and plans are in the works to potentially include Terminal A and nearby parking. Funding for the project would be a public-private model, with the city taking on some of the costs while an investor would front another portion. The fare cost is currently unknown, city officials said.
Our First Project—San José, California
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