In the 1985 film Back to the Future, it was predicted that by 2015, we’d be getting around in flying cars. While that vision may not have materialized, from 2025, at least one North Texas city will be taking a step towards a more efficient and sustainable transportation future, above the gridlock traffic.

The population of North Texas is predicted to expand from 8.4 million to over 12 million, thanks in part to the expansion of 25 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This will significantly strain the existing transit infrastructure, especially in a car-centric society.

Five North Texas cities, including Dallas, are in the running to be the first to have a Swyft Cities Whoosh! gondola system. Whoosh! is “…a personalized, point-to-point transportation for passengers or goods traveling in smart electric vehicles on a light and flexible elevated cable and rail network.”

These on-demand, autonomous cable cars aim to improve traffic congestion and positively impact the environment. They have zero emissions and significantly reduce the need for parking, thereby contributing to the creation of more walkable neighborhoods and less urban congestion—benefits not just for the service’s users but the wider community.

The system’s adaptability is a key advantage. It can be implemented with less disruption than traditional modes of transport, and its stations can be seamlessly integrated into existing infrastructure, whether at ground level, elevated, or added onto an existing building. The system is fast to implement and expandable as demand increases.

On-demand services have been shown to affect the use of other forms of public transport positively. An innovative system such as Whoosh! extends current multimodal coverage. With good transport links into downtown areas, on-demand gondolas that sail over gridlocked traffic and remove the stress of parking, getting people swiftly to their destination, will offer some a viable alternative to using the car.

Kuba is a long-term advocate of connected, multimodal mobility – something we support with our mobile app. Under the name GoPass, our solution is currently used by nine Texas agencies to provide a one-stop shop for planning journeys and booking and paying for public transit and other mobility services. With integrations to multiple on-demand service providers, and TNC services such as UBER and LYFT, it offers a solution to first/last-mile problems, and allows more access to traditional public transit.

Currently, there is no information available about the Whoosh! system’s costs to riders or how it will integrate into the current public transit environment. However, as Swift Cities is in discussion with the Regional Transportation Council for North Texas, it can be hoped that the system will benefit the whole community.

We will be watching developments keenly!