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It's pretty safe to say anyone who has ridden West Virginia University's PRT system has some kind of horror story.
Typically, it's the same complaint – it breaks down or it's is late getting to one station over another. However, recent incidents have proven to be more serious.
We've had multiple reports from riders about seeing a PRT car filled with smoke and a fire erupting in one of the cars Thursday.
Students in the car were then forced to walk the tracks as the system came to a complete stop – a safeguard for such incidents.
However, these incidents have been downplayed by the University.
The issues were attributed to "minor problems" and "arching electrical phases on track" that "caused a flash and cloud of smoke," according to Director of Transportation and Parking Hugh Kierig, by way of Becky Lofstead, assistant vice president for University Communications.
As reported in Monday's edition of The Daily Athenaeum, University spokesman John Bolt said there had been several electrical problems but none were major.
The PRT is synonymous with its problems, despite continual reassurances from University-provided statistics of high reliability and constant uptime.
The system is a flawed behemoth. There isn't enough money to completely overhaul the system, despite constant funding being poured into it for upgrades.
Most recently, the University closed the system for an entire summer, spending $2.5 million on track and system issues.
These upgrades weren't designed to fix all issues, and they haven't.
The system's uptime is, at least, available through WVU Mobile and MIX – saving students the frustration of walking to a station to find it shut down.
We do, however, for the safety of the community that rides it daily, ask the University to seriously consider shutting it down for an extended period of time.
It doesn't matter if these incidents are isolated.
The system could benefit from an extended period of downtime – not just a summer, perhaps even a year or two – to fully diagnose constant problems.
The University is likely to unveil an overhaul for the system in its next strategic plan.
Whether or not it will be a comprehensive upgrade or just another series of patch-jobs remains to be seen.
The PRT is a symbol of the University and an icon of Morgantown. It is an important system connecting the University's varied campus locations.
We don't believe the University would, for one minute, continue to run a system they didn't genuinely believe was safe for its riders.
However, these more serious issues – beyond the delays or repetitive breakdowns – deserve more extensive attention.