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Jetson-style "sky cars" are expected to become a reality in Tel Aviv in the next few years.

The city, which is known for its vibrant start-up scene, is preparing to install a track that would allow the "sky cars" to zip across the city, cutting down on congestion and emissions.

The initial track would be about 5 miles long, but would eventually expand to about 75 miles.

Jerry Sanders, CEO of SkyTran, is the man promoting these futuristic cars. He's been developing the transportation system in partnership with NASA, and said he is keen to work with Tel Aviv.

"Israel is a country where they love new technology," he said. "SkyTran has to start somewhere where people are not afraid of technology."

But the cars aren't off the ground quite yet. SkyTran and defense firm Israel Aerospace Industries are building a beta site in the Tel Aviv suburbs to test it. There are also still many regulatory hurdles to clear before the system can be built, but Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai is optimistic.

It's expected that the experimental track will be completed by the end of 2015 and city track construction will begin at the end of 2016.

The SkyTran cars are expected to travel as fast as 180 miles per hour and will be able to transport people in two-person "jet-like" pods along a magnetic track. There will be no need to stop unnecessarily since the track will have small loops at each station, allowing some cars to stop while others continue on their journey. --A.P.