MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The familiar hum of the gold and blue "Personal Rapid Transit" cars has been part of life at West Virginia University for half a century.
This fall, the "PRT," which was the first large-scale automated guideway transit system in the U.S., is celebrating 50 years of service to students, faculty, staff, and visitors across the Morgantown campus.
What began as an experimental transportation project has become one of the university’s most recognizable landmarks — a symbol of innovation and Mountaineer ingenuity, according to WVU President Michael T. Benson.
“The PRT is a quintessential and critical part of our campus community — a recognizable, bedrock piece of infrastructure that also stands as an ongoing example of the ingenuity that defines Mountaineers,” Benson said.
The PRT "ride of the future" is still rolling strong
Initially funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and built by Boeing, the system has far exceeded its original 10-year design life, WVU Transportation Director Jeremy Evans said.
“There is no other system like this,” Evans said. “It’s really a testament to the people who work at the PRT, especially our maintenance staff, who have kept it running for these 50 years.”
Today, 67 rubber-tired, electrically powered cars glide along 8.7 miles of elevated guideway, connecting five stations — Walnut, Beechurst, Engineering, Towers, and Health Sciences. Each on-demand trip takes passengers directly to their destination, bypassing other stops and keeping commutes fast and efficient.
Over its lifetime, the system has carried more than 100 million passengers and continues to help ease traffic congestion around Morgantown, averaging 12,000 riders a day with a reliability rate above 98%.
Celebrating the PRT Golden Anniversary
To mark its 50th anniversary, the university is hosting a week of special events from Nov. 3–8, including—
- Behind-the-scenes tours of PRT Central on Nov. 6–7, offering the public a rare look at the operations and technology behind the system.
- A historical display at the WVU Downtown Library’s West Virginia and Regional History Center, open through the end of the year.
- A retro-inspired PRT collection and photo exhibit at the WVU Bookstore on Nov. 6–7.
- A specially wrapped anniversary PRT car will also make its debut — perfect for photo ops as the University reflects on five decades of what was once dubbed the “ride of the future.”
The people behind the PRT
For afternoon shift supervisor Ian Frease, the transit system has been more than just a job: it’s part of his life story.
When he was a WVU student, Frease was once scolded over the station intercom for bouncing a basketball while waiting for a PRT car. Years later, he sits in the control room on the other side of that intercom, ensuring the system runs smoothly for thousands of riders every day.
“It just so happened the PRT was hiring, and my wife kind of jokingly said I should apply,” Frease recalled. “‘You always loved the PRT! Why not go work there?’ And I thought, actually, that’s a good idea.”
Frease oversees operations from a room lined with camera feeds and system maps that track every car’s movement. The transit system’s automation has evolved over the years. Its current software system is the same one used by Disney’s Monorail and the New York City Subway.
“Every aspect of the PRT is controlled from this room,” Frease said. “From lights to elevators to the electricity that powers the whole track.”
Despite the technical complexity, he said it’s the camaraderie and human connection that define the job.
“When you sit in a room with three other people for 40 to 50 hours a week, you get to know each other pretty well,” he said. “We all have one common goal — getting people where they need to go as safely and efficiently as possible.”
Humor on the PRT mono-rail
Frease admits that while the transit system is serious business, the students who ride it often keep things lighthearted. He says he's seen everything from spontaneous TikTok dances to games of “rock, paper, scissors” with the control room operators.
“The silliness and goofiness of some of the students, I find great,” Frease said, smiling. “It keeps things fun.” Still, his guiding principle remains the same one he learned as a student: stay calm, cool, and collected.
Looking ahead at the PRT
As the PRT enters its next 50 years, Evans said WVU is exploring modern upgrades — including potential battery-powered vehicles, extended routes, and more stations.
“Five decades later, the PRT experiment continues in really exciting, forward-thinking ways,” Evans said.
For a system built as a vision of the future, Morgantown’s PRT remains just that — a moving symbol of innovation, community, and Mountaineer pride.
Shauna Johnson, Executive Director of Strategic Communications at the WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing Department, contributed to this story.
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