After six years of development, Beltways’ 120-foot M5 Accelerator debuts in Cincinnati, installing in just 53 hours without construction as major U.S. airports explore deployments.

CINCINNATI, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — (www.beltways.com) — Beltways, an American transportation technology company, celebrated the public debut of America’s first accelerator at the First Financial Center in downtown Cincinnati on October 5. The milestone marks the culmination of six years of development and six generations of technology, bringing a new form of high-speed pedestrian transportation into public operation.

The company’s patented M5 Accelerator combines the continuous flow of a moving walkway with travel speeds approaching those of a tram. Unlike conventional moving walkways, which operate at a constant speed, the Accelerator allows passengers to step on at a comfortable walking pace, accelerate to higher speeds, and decelerate back to a walking pace before exiting. Its modular architecture allows the system to be installed directly on existing floors without the extensive construction typically associated with conventional pedestrian conveyance systems.

The 120-foot Cincinnati installation was completed in just 53 hours, without construction or disruption to facility operations. Since opening to the public, thousands of people have experienced the Accelerator, including passengers using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and strollers.

“The M5 combines the continuous flow of a moving walkway, the speed of a tram, and the intelligence of an autonomous vehicle,” said John Yuksel, CEO and co-founder of Beltways. “And, as thousands of people here have discovered, some of the thrill of an amusement ride.”

From Six Years of Development to Public Deployment

Founded by brothers John and Matine Yuksel to commercialize their father’s original vision for accelerating walkways, Beltways has developed six generations of its proprietary technology since 2020.

Each M5 Accelerator consists of standardized, interconnected modules with independently controlled speeds. This modular approach enables scalable manufacturing, rapid installation, simplified maintenance, and continuous system monitoring through the company’s proprietary operating system, Beltways OS.

Unlike traditional moving walkways, which often require extensive construction and permanent infrastructure modifications, Accelerators are designed to be installed, extended, reconfigured, or relocated as transportation needs evolve.

“This installation of America’s first Accelerator serves as a major step from novelty to utility,” said Matine Yuksel, COO and co-founder of Beltways.

The public demonstration has also provided valuable operational feedback. Thousands of riders of different ages and abilities have experienced the technology, helping Beltways refine the passenger experience and inform future generations of the system.

Cincinnati Becomes the Launchpad for a New Transportation Technology

The installation was made possible through a collaboration between Beltways, the City of Cincinnati, First Financial Center, and facility operator Legends Global.

Cincinnati’s Strategic Growth team helped coordinate stakeholders and navigate the permitting process required to introduce first-of-its-kind technology into a public facility.

“This demonstration is especially meaningful for Cincinnati,” said Brandon Rudd, Deputy Director of Strategic Growth for the City of Cincinnati, during the unveiling. “Hosting this technology here at the First Financial Center places Cincinnati at the intersection of those efforts and gives our city the opportunity to demonstrate an idea with potential significance far beyond this building.”

Representatives of First Financial Center and Legends Global also praised the speed and simplicity of the installation, which was completed without disrupting convention center operations.

The deployment coincides with Cincinnati’s broader investment in its convention district and its efforts to attract innovative companies developing next-generation technologies.

Major U.S. Airports Explore Accelerator Deployments

The successful demonstration comes as Beltways advances discussions with major U.S. airports seeking alternatives to conventional moving walkways and infrastructure-intensive passenger transportation systems.

According to Beltways, major airport executives have contacted the company over the preceding month to discuss more than 30,000 linear feet of potential indoor deployments.

Airports represent the company’s initial commercial focus, where long pedestrian corridors, passenger congestion, and costly infrastructure improvements create opportunities for faster, more flexible transportation.

Beltways ultimately envisions Accelerator networks extending beyond airports into convention centers, transit hubs, university campuses, and urban centers.

The company’s long-term ambition is to make walking a practical form of high-speed transportation, connecting neighborhoods, expanding the reach of public transit, and reducing dependence on vehicles for short-distance travel.

A Vision Decades in the Making

The concept of accelerating walkways dates back decades. During the 1970s and 1980s, the U.S. Department of Transportation studied high-speed pedestrian conveyance systems and evaluated their potential applications in major transportation corridors.

Despite subsequent development efforts internationally, accelerating walkways have struggled to achieve widespread commercial adoption.

Beltways believes advances in modular engineering, automation, and intelligent controls have created an opportunity to realize that long-standing vision.

The company began in San Francisco, developed early prototypes in Iowa, and manufactured its technology in Northern Kentucky before installing America’s first accelerator in Cincinnati.

“After six years, the question has changed,” said John Yuksel. “It is no longer: Does the technology work? It is: How fast can we build the modules?”

About Beltways

Beltways is an American original equipment manufacturer pioneering a new category of short-range mass transit called Accelerators. Its patented M5 Accelerator is a modular, pit-less, variable-speed pedestrian conveyance system designed to move large numbers of people quickly, safely, and efficiently. The Beltways OS platform integrates deterministic motion control, real-time monitoring, and AI-powered predictive maintenance to operate Accelerators and enable proactive service that keeps networks running reliably. Headquartered in Northern Kentucky, Beltways designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains its technology with a mission to make walking the best way to get around.

Website: beltways.com

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SOURCE Beltways