The PRT team reminds passengers of safety guidelines

Welcome back to campus, Mountaineers! With thousands of passengers traveling on the Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) each day, your safety is our top priority.

Over the past several years, the PRT team has taken many steps to improve the PRT to help ensure fewer disruptions in service so we can get you where you need to go.

For example, we’re inspecting the track more often to check the power rail, using thermal imaging to find electrical issues before they become a problem, doing more in-depth weekly car inspections, and completing track running surface repairs. And that just scratches the surface!

We are excited that these changes are reducing “overcurrent faults” by 60% since 2017.

Overcurrent faults have always been part of the PRT system and happen when two parts of the PRT’s power rail touch, which can produce a flash and a loud boom. Some smoke may also be present, but there will not be a fire.

While this can appear concerning if you’re riding the PRT, this is actually common and you don’t need to exit the car. Staying inside the PRT car is the safest place to be in these instances.

PRT Central Control staff will use the 2-way radio inside the car to chat with you and give instructions. Information on how to use the radio to contact PRT Central Control is posted in the car by the radio intercom.

During any event, please remain calm and use the car’s radio system any time to talk to PRT Central Control staff. They are always available while the PRT is open.

If you are instructed by PRT Central Control staff to exit the car in case of an emergency, you’ll see new stickers in the cars to let you know whether to exit via the car door or the back glass.

Additional PRT safety guidelines include:

• You should always stay off the electrically powered tracks. This area contains highly dangerous voltage areas that can cause injuries to you or others. You should only access the track when instructed to do so by PRT staff. If you drop an item or need assistance with something on the track, please use the assistance telephones located on each platform to talk with PRT staff.
• When boarding, please do not hold car doors open or overcrowd the car.
• Do not forcibly open car doors or windows. These actions can cause delays for you and your fellow passengers.

As a reminder, the PRT’s normal operating hours are Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 10:15 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.

The PRT may have adjusted hours of operation for campus events and University holidays. The PRT will also operate for one hour after the conclusion of any home football or men’s basketball game that extends past normal operating hours.

Students, faculty and staff ride for free with their WVU ID. The general public pays only $0.50 per trip.

To monitor the PRT status, follow @WVUPRTstatus on X. For more transportation and parking information, visit our website.