North Central Texas Council of Governments - Regional People Mover Initiative

This is an image of a rail line outside of a city skyline in the DFW area

This is an image of a rail line train car above a road

Images from: Lea+Elliott, Inc.

What is a people mover?

People movers circulate travelers across a geographically small area, typically using automated, electrically-powered vehicles operating on elevated guideways. People movers connect districts or single destinations to larger-scale regional transit. While these systems are similar to regional light rail, people movers typically operate smaller vehicles that serve small areas with stations spaced closer together and a more frequent level of service.

When properly planned and carefully implemented, these systems can reduce congestion, enhance transit-oriented developments, optimize parking, and expand the reach of transit. People movers are commonly built in the following locations:

At airports, where terminals are large and/or not immediately adjacent to one another (Dallas Fort Worth International Airport; Newark, Tampa).
Entertainment districts where a large number of visitors travel between closely spaced destinations (Las Vegas, Orlando).
Downtowns, in areas where a people mover could connect to other forms of transit or serve areas with many residents and non-office commercial activity (Miami, Las Colinas, Jacksonville).

Regional People Mover Initiative Contacts:

Brendon Wheeler

Local People Movers

Two people mover systems currently operate in North Central Texas: the DFW International Airport Skylink and Las Colinas Area Personal Transit (APT) system. The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport Skylink shuttles passengers between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport’s terminals. The system enables passengers to make connections without having to be rescreened by security. Completed in 1989, the Las Colinas APT is one of the oldest people mover systems in the United States. The recent connection to DART rapid transit through Las Colinas has increased ridership, and created interest in adding new stations, system upgrades, and extensions of the system to new entertainment venues and Irving Convention Center.