Yes, the first PRT system has been operating since 1976 at West Virginia University (video) with an impeccable safety record. Podways are a form of PRT (Personal Rapid Transit). Germany's Wuppertal is a suspended transit system that has been operating since 1901.
The project's engineering partner is Capgemini. Capgemini is the largest and one of the most respected system engineering companies in the world. For decades, they have delivered similar systems including automated transit, high-speed rail, autonomous vehicles, and elevators.
A podway was installed in 2021 near Boston for testing. That pilot proved the podway's engineering, manufacturability, low cost, and fast installation. Every podway project starts with a onsite pilot followed by a phased rollout. Over a dozen governments are moving forward with podway projects and the first ones will start operations in 2026. The reason why no large automated networks have been built to date is because of the 4 C's and 4 F's — and podway projects overcome these barriers. A comparison of PRT, podways, cars, buses, and trains is available.
Every podway project is unique — similar to every other major civil infrastructure project including every skyscraper, transit system, bridge and dam. Podway projects have lower risk than most transportation projects because: 1. privately funded, 2. manufactured infrastructure, 3. use existing easements, 4. exclusive and grade separated tracks, 5. fully automated controls, 6. positive environmental impact and 7. rapid implementation. The book titled "How Big Things Get Done. The surprising factors that determine the fate of every project." has analyzed over 250 large projects — and podway projects are similar to the most sucessful (and least risky) projects. Each podway project will secure insurance policies to mitigate risks for the government, including Performance Bonds, Technology Performance Bonds, and Decommissioning Bonds.
There is an important distinction between perception of risk and actual risk. Confusing these two can lead to disasterous results. For example, when California was first considering the construction of high speed rail (HSR) between Los Angeles and San Franciso, government officials visited Japan to ride their HSR system that had been operational for over 50 years. They perceived the project risk for CA HSR to be low because "We rode Japan's HSR and it been operating for 50 years! (If Japan has done it, then we can.)" The California HSR project now faces significant delays (10+ years) and cost overruns ($100B+), highlighting the complexity and risks involved in heavy civil infrastructure projects.
Governments significantly underestimate their current risk exposure from flooding, crashes, congestion, carbon emissions, climate heating, pollution, sea level rise, heat waves, migration, civil unrest, disruption from construction, and increasing project costs.
For governments, moving forward with a podway project is the option that delivers the strongest benefits, highest revenue, significant positive financial impacts with negligible risk.