In May, an online video showing the model of a massive futuristic bus passing above lines of car traffic, all while transporting passengers, generated a lot of buzz . The technology was exciting, but many viewers assumed it to be something of the future. In China, it appears the future is now. On August 3, in the northeastern city of Qinhuangdao, the Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) launched its first-ever trial run. Powered by electricity, the bus—which will run on rails constructed alongside pre-existing roads—moved along a nearly 1,000-foot track. The TEB, which measures 72 feet long by 25 feet wide, allows vehicles to easily pass under its frame, a concept that could revolutionize public transportation in cities, as the cost for building rails would be substantially less than drilling underground to build subway lines.

A view of the interior.

The vehicle, which can reportedly reach speeds of 37 m.p.h., transports up to 300 passengers, which will go a long way in alleviating congestion in some of the world’s most populous cities, many of which are in China. Up to four TEBs can be linked together, creating a nearly 300-foot-long electric vehicle to move some 1,200 residents across a city. And while some questions still remain—for one, what safety precautions will be taken for riders—the Transit Elevated Bus is a very positive step toward the future of sustainable urban living.