Huntsville Hospital Tram System
Encyclopedia
The Huntsville Hospital Tram System is an automated people mover system located as part of the Huntsville Hospital System
complex in Huntsville
, Alabama
, United States. Operating on a 1890 feet (576.1 m) concrete guideway, the trams serve to connect the Huntsville Hospital with the Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. At the time of completion, this was the second hospital people mover system in the United States after the Duke University Medical Center Patient Rapid Transit
. , this is the only automated people mover system completed in the state of Alabama.
-Otis
Transportation Systems and constructed by Brasfield & Gorrie
, the two car system was completed at a final cost of $10.9 million. The two 1890 feet (576.1 m) concrete guideway
s are elevated 30 feet (9.1 m) above the surface. Costing $280,000 annually to operate, the Huntsville Hospital Tram System handles approximately 2,200 passengers per day.
The vehicles were designed by the Gangloff company of Switzerland. Each car can handle three seated and 38 standing passengers. Additionally, each car was designed to accommodate the largest bed in use by the hospital for the transport of patients.
The system runs in an east-west direction between the main Huntsville Hospital building and the Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children with intermediate stops at the Plaza Resource Center and the Franklin Medical Tower. The system offers two separate modes for reaching the various stations, a Local Mode and an Express Mode. The Local Mode makes all four stops, primarily traveling along the northern track The Express Mode only travels between the two termini, primarily along the southern track.
By December 1998, plans for the system moved forward after gaining approval for several property variance
s from the Huntsville Board of Zoning Adjustment to allow for its construction. By early 2000 construction of the system would commence, with an initial opening slated for summer 2001. However, due to delays and the need for enhanced security along the system in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the system would not open until June 19, 2002.
By 2004, use of the tram resulted in the elimination of approximately 4,500 annual ambulance trips and the use of two full-time shuttle vans between the two main facilities. Due to this reduction in the number of vehicle trips made, Huntsville Hospital was awarded a 2004 Industrial Air Pollution Control Achievement Award from the city of Huntsville Air Pollution Control Board.
Huntsville Hospital System
The Huntsville Hospital System also known as Huntsville Hospital is a public, not-for-profit hospital campus consisting of several sites and buildings originating in the downtown area of Huntsville, Alabama...
complex in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, United States. Operating on a 1890 feet (576.1 m) concrete guideway, the trams serve to connect the Huntsville Hospital with the Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. At the time of completion, this was the second hospital people mover system in the United States after the Duke University Medical Center Patient Rapid Transit
Duke University Medical Center Patient Rapid Transit
Duke University Medical Center Patient Rapid Transit or Personnel Rapid Transit was an automated people mover system located at the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, in the United States. The system was in operation from 1979 to 2009, and service is now discontinued...
. , this is the only automated people mover system completed in the state of Alabama.
Description
Developed by PomaPoma
Poma, also known as Pomagalski S.A. is a French company, specialising in construction of cable-driven lift systems, including fixed and detachable chairlifts, gondola lifts, funiculars, aerial tramways, people movers, and surface lifts. Poma has installed more than 7800 devices on five continents,...
-Otis
Otis Elevator Company
The Otis Elevator Company is the world's largest manufacturer of vertical transportation systems today, principally focusing on elevators and escalators...
Transportation Systems and constructed by Brasfield & Gorrie
Brasfield & Gorrie
Brasfield & Gorrie, LLC is a privately held construction management, general contractor|general contracting, and design-build service provider. Founded in 1921 by Thomas C. Brasfield as the Thomas C...
, the two car system was completed at a final cost of $10.9 million. The two 1890 feet (576.1 m) concrete guideway
Automated guideway transit
Automated guideway transit is a fully automated, driverless, grade-separated transit system in which vehicles are automatically guided along a "guideway". The vehicles are often rubber tired, but other systems including steel wheels, air cushion and maglev systems have also been used in experiments...
s are elevated 30 feet (9.1 m) above the surface. Costing $280,000 annually to operate, the Huntsville Hospital Tram System handles approximately 2,200 passengers per day.
The vehicles were designed by the Gangloff company of Switzerland. Each car can handle three seated and 38 standing passengers. Additionally, each car was designed to accommodate the largest bed in use by the hospital for the transport of patients.
The system runs in an east-west direction between the main Huntsville Hospital building and the Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children with intermediate stops at the Plaza Resource Center and the Franklin Medical Tower. The system offers two separate modes for reaching the various stations, a Local Mode and an Express Mode. The Local Mode makes all four stops, primarily traveling along the northern track The Express Mode only travels between the two termini, primarily along the southern track.
History
The idea of developing a tram system for Huntsville Hospital was initially proposed in mid-1997. The tram was proposed as a solution to both parking issues and to allow for easier connectivity between the separate buildings of the sprawling hospital campus. Additionally, the consolidation and transformation of the former Humana Hospital with Huntsville Hospital in 1994 made the development of the tram necessary in an effort to eliminate duplicate services and provide for easy transport of patients and doctors from each facility.By December 1998, plans for the system moved forward after gaining approval for several property variance
Variance (land use)
A variance is the process by which an applicant can request deviation from the set of rules a municipality applies to land use and land development, typically a zoning ordinance, building code or municipal code. The manner in which variances are employed can differ greatly depending on the...
s from the Huntsville Board of Zoning Adjustment to allow for its construction. By early 2000 construction of the system would commence, with an initial opening slated for summer 2001. However, due to delays and the need for enhanced security along the system in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the system would not open until June 19, 2002.
By 2004, use of the tram resulted in the elimination of approximately 4,500 annual ambulance trips and the use of two full-time shuttle vans between the two main facilities. Due to this reduction in the number of vehicle trips made, Huntsville Hospital was awarded a 2004 Industrial Air Pollution Control Achievement Award from the city of Huntsville Air Pollution Control Board.