While SkyTran can be built in any configuration from linearly like a train route to a system with any number of branches and loops, ideally SkyTran would be built as a grid. Like the road system, a SkyTran grid would allow someone to go anywhere they would like, from anywhere they happen to be. As a balance between cost and convenience, we recommend a one mile by one mile grid. This would make the average distance to a very short walk - less than people normally have to walk to get to a bus station.

For the most cost effective system, lower-speed (60 to 80 mph) guideways would cover the whole city, and spaced father apart would be higher-speed (150 to 200 mph) guideways to take passengers across the city or between cities. Similar to cars, SkyTran's maximum efficiency is around 55 mph, and so these lower-speed guideways are more energy efficient. However, the lower-speed guieways also allow for cheaper stations, because the accelleration and decelleration tracks may be much shorter. The lower-speed guideway would of course connect to the high-speed ones to allow anyone to get where they're going as fast as possible.

The system of main guide-ways can be arranged in a grid so that tracks going north-south can be built over tracks going east-west (just like overpasses on a freeway). In this way, there are no intersections and no stops. One utility pole can carry tracks in two directions, as well as on- or off-ramps or stations. So the whole footprint of a SkyTran system, besides stairs and/or handicap elevators on portals, is just a standard utility pole every 30 feet.