Indiana University Health People Mover

The Indiana University Health People Mover, formerly the Clarian Health People Mover, was a 1.4-mile (2.3 km) long, 4 ft (1,219 mm) narrow gauge[3] people mover in the city of Indianapolis in the United States. The system opened on June 28, 2003,[4] to connect Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis, Indiana University Hospital, and James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children, jointly operated as a single hospital by Indiana University Health.[5]

Indiana University Health People Mover
Overview
LocaleIndianapolis, Indiana, United States
Transit typePeople mover
Number of lines1
Number of stations3
Operation
Began operation2003
Ended operation2019
Operator(s)Indiana University Health
Number of vehicles2 × (3 car)
Technical
System length1.4 mi (2.25 km)
Track gauge4 ft (1,219 mm) duorail concrete guideway
Average speed17 mph (27 km/h)
Top speed30 mph (48 km/h)
System map

 Methodist station1
I-65.svg I-65
 Canal station
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street
 IU/Riley station

^Note 1 Methodist is also the control
room and maintenance facility[1][2]

The dual-track system was open to the public and operated around the clock, taking 5 minutes in each direction.[5] During the daytime, a train departed automatically every six minutes.[5] It was notable for being the only private transportation system in the United States constructed to run above public streets.[6][1]

In December 2018, plans were introduced to revert the route to a bus-based operation after February 2019. The replacement road-based shuttle service would use four to six buses running on propane fuel or compressed natural gas, while the People Mover tracks would remain in place for the pneumatic tube system.[7][8]

History

In 1997, the three hospital operations were combined under Indiana law creating a shared staff of over 10,000 employees who could be required to travel between the campuses. Commuting between the three sites was complicated and required crossing under Interstate 65 by shuttle buses.

In May 2000, a Health Care Transportation System Franchise Agreement was signed, followed by the People Mover – State of Indiana Airspace Agreement and Lease in November 2000 to allow crossing under the Interstate 65 highway for a period of 25 years.[6] The system was ready by late 2002, which was followed by a six-month testing period, during which the trains were driven manually. After the public opening in June 2003, automatic and remote operation from the control center was used.[9]

As of February 2017, the People Mover had made 500,000 round trips (1.04 million miles) and carried 6.1 million passengers, operating at 99.6-percent efficiency.[9]

The People Mover carried its last passengers on Wednesday, February 6, 2019.[10]

During demolishment activities of the track system in 2023, a section collapsed and killed a construction worker.[11]

System
The large gap between the rails avoids collecting snow. In the center are pneumatic tubes for document and sample transfer.[1]

The system was constructed by Schwager Davis Inc. (SDI) from San Jose, California, to their Unitrak standard.[6]

There are two separate parallel elevated guideways side-by-side, both of which operate in both directions. The concrete rails have a gap between them, designed to combat winter snow and the people mover is therefore not technically a monorail.[5]

Each of the two tracks carried a train with three carriages for a total capacity of 81 passengers. Each train weighed 45,000 pounds (20 t) and had twenty-four passenger seats across the three cars. The rest of the passenger capacity was made up of standing places.[5]

Operation

During the night-time, one track was closed between 6:00 pm and 5:30 am for maintenance, with the other train/track operated in on-demand mode by elevator-style call buttons.[12]

References
  1. "Clarian People Mover" (PDF). teMPO Special Edition. Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). October 2002. pp. 1, 18–22. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2008. Retrieved October 15, 2008. The northernmost terminal, located at Methodist Hospital, will also house the system's safety and security monitoring station and maintenance shop. [..] The Indiana University Health People Mover is America's first privately owned transit system to operate over city streets. [...] capacity will be 1800 passengers per hour [...] Though initially proposed as 8,000 feet, the People Mover route was reduced to 7,400 feet when two stations on Walnut Street were merged into one. An elevated walkway now connects Riley Hospital to the station. [...] The guideway [..] features a "translogic tubing" system along its route that will eventually facilitate pneumatic transfer of documents and samples.
  2. "Clarian People Mover Route". Retrieved October 15, 2008. The People Mover runs south from Methodist Hospital along Senate Avenue, west on 11th Street to University Boulevard, west on Walnut Street to Indiana University Hospital and west to Riley Hospital for Children.
  3. "Trams of the World 2017" (PDF). Blickpunkt Straßenbahn. January 24, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  4. "People Mover opening date set". the Clarian. June 10, 2003. Retrieved October 14, 2008. Saturday, June 28 The People Mover begins its normal 24/7 schedule, running between Clarian's downtown campuses.
  5. "Clarian Health People Mover: from concept to completion in two years" (PDF). Schwager Davis. December 1, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2008. The Clarian People Mover is an innovative dual track urban transit system operating two, three-car trains on an elevated guideway over public land. It can accommodate 81 passengers per train trip and quietly covers its 1.4 mile route in approximately 5 minutes [...]
    Horizontal Length 7,400 feet (1.4 miles) [...]
    It maintains the 4-foot gauge used in Primm, but incorporates an open superstructure that allows snow to fall through rather than accumulate. [...]
    The trains run automatically [..] departing every six minutes. [...]
    Individual train cars are 22'L x 8'W x 10'H, with seating for eight passengers and standing room for 19 [...]
  6. Jakes, Andrew S. (June 4, 2001). "Franchise Agreement with the City of Indianapolis: A new approach to people mover implementation in American cities" (PDF). Jakes Associates. The Health Care Transportation Franchise Agreement between the Consolidated City of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana and Clarian Health Partners, Inc. is the first ever conceived. [..] no one has ever attempted to enter into a long-term transportation franchise agreement with private industry other than a transit supplier or a consortium.
    [..] The legal framework for the private project on public right-of-way is based on two agreements as follows: •Health Care Transportation System Franchise Agreement between The Consolidated City of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana and Clarian Health Partners, Inc. (executed May 2000) •People Mover – State of Indiana Airspace Agreement and Lease (executed November 2000) [..] The duration of the Airspace Lease agreement is 25 years
    [..] The alignment consists of an elevated, double guideway, bi-directional transit system
    [..] The contract for a [..] monorail with three elevated, enclosed stations and walkways was executed with Schwager Davis, Inc. (SDI), based in San Jose, California. SDI conceived the technology known as Unitrak. Its successful operation has been demonstrated in Primm City, Nevada
  7. "IU Health people mover shutting down in 2019". WTHR. December 12, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  8. "Around IUPUI". IUPUI News. December 13, 2018. Four to six shuttles ... run on compressed natural gas or propane fuel, ... more environmentally favorable ... People Mover will continue to run until the shuttle service begins
  9. Benbow, Dana (February 2, 2017). "What You Might Not Know About Indy's Mini Transit System". IU Health News. completed in 2002, ... 6-month testing ... first six months, Jenkins and others drove the trains, thus the need for wipers ... first passenger ... June of 2003 ... efficiency is at 99.6 percent ... 6.1 million ... people ... 1.04 million miles ... 500,000 round trips ... 107,000 hours.
  10. New IU Health shuttle bus system debuts, BY TIM BROUK. Feb. 7, 2019
  11. Construction worker killed near downtown identified as 38-year-old man, BY JAKE ALLEN. Oct. 3, 2023
  12. "Overnight Lodging Guide at Clarian Health 2006–07" (PDF). James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children. October 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 29, 2008. Retrieved October 14, 2008. Clarian People Mover; Free and open to the public, the People Mover is wheelchair accessible. It operates from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. After 10 p.m. one train will dock for maintenance and the other train will be "on-call."
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