PEORIA, Ariz. – Recent decisions by local government in several cities offer another indication of how attitudes are changing toward car ownership.
Peoria’s city council has approved funding for a 60-day autonomous vehicle pilot program with Beep, a Florida-based autonomous mobility solutions company. Gainesville, Florida has also announced plans for a similar autonomous vehicle to operate in its downtown area.
“This transportation pilot is a unique experiment for our community,” said Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat. “We see this as an important step as we seek to understand some of the innovative solutions that exist around the world, and how they bring value to Peoria residents.”
The fully electric, driverless shuttle is set to launch on Saturday, Feb. 22, and will operate daily from noon to 6 p.m. in the P83 Entertainment District on Arrowhead Fountain Center Drive from Huntington University to Paradise Lane. The shuttle, which has no steering wheel or pedals, will use a pre-programmed, fixed route with a combination of localization techniques, involving high-powered censors and cameras.
The shuttle holds up to 10 passengers at a time and will operate at a maximum speed of 15 mph as part of the pilot program, Beep stated.
“We are extremely excited about this opportunity,” said Peoria Public Works Director Kevin Burke. “This is level 5 autonomous technology. It could be a game changer for Peoria transit.”
The Objective of Pilot
Added Beep in a statement: “The objective of this pilot program is to understand the feasibility of using autonomous vehicles for the first and last mile, meaning the beginning and end of an individual trip made primarily by public transportation. The pilot program will also capture ridership adoption behaviors and patterns in the city of Peoria. Providing more public transportation options in an innovative way is a priority for city leadership. Autonomous vehicles have already entered the market worldwide and cities must now determine how best to utilize the technology for their residents. This pilot program is an opportunity for the city of Peoria to learn what transportation solutions are the best fit for the community alongside current transportation options.”