The necessity of architecture to leverage infrastructure bills is unavoidable; where the money is flowing steadily. Architects must strive to design and propose bold plans for new public urban spaces, systems of environmental remediation, modern transportation, sewage and plumbing innovations, and increasing the overall efficiency and productivity of the systems that make up the public welfare.
I'd like to propose such plan for the city of Pittsburgh specifically in order to bolster the interconnectivity of cities such as Washington DC, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Chicago.
On the site of the recently closed SCI Pittsburgh adjacent to the water treatment plant and the Duquesne Light Co. This massive publicly funded structure had once been a prison since 1886 and is well positioned to function as the site of a new 'Big Dig'. By creating a hub for high speed ground travel all the large metropolitan areas along the eastern seaboard can begin to grow into a series of megalopolis. Using high speed rail, or magnetized rail systems these urban areas can be connected with travels times well below one hour. Additionally, the proximity of the public water treatment plants, which have performed less than ideally in Pittsburgh, paired with the tunneling and bridge building required of air can be paired together with a whole new system for drainage and water treatment to solve the delirious flooding and back flow of sewage which Pittsburgh struggles with during its yearly floods.
Transportation by air, ground (traditional train and car) and by waterway tend to be either relatively expensive or relatively slow respectively. Air cushioned rail or magnetic superconducting trains have the unique ability to be very fast and inexpensive for both people and goods. This is achieved with pressurized air and aerodynamic lift.
The largest power requirements are those which overcome air resistance. Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed FD ∝ v^2 or FD =1/2 C ρ A v^2
Solar paneling on the tubing is sufficient to support a battery in the pod for complete power to the system.
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