The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has partnered with the Balfour Beatty Vision 2 Reality (V2R) team, including autonomous mobility company Beep, to launch the Autonomous Innovation Center (AIC) at LaVilla, a town in Jacksonville, Florida.
This facility will serve as a hub for an advanced command-and-control center, designed to store, service, monitor and maintain the city’s electric, autonomous mobility system.
The AIC is a component of the first phase of JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) program, the Bay Street Innovation Corridor (BSIC), which aims to modernize and expand transportation options in Downtown Jacksonville while introducing AVs into the JTA’s transportation system.
The AIC will have an open terrace, allowing guided tours and educational opportunities – visitors will be able to see the AVs arriving and departing the facility from a viewing area. Additionally, in partnership with LaVilla Heritage Trail & Gateways, an area outside the secure perimeter along Bay Street will host food trucks, enhancing the experience for residents and visitors alike.
Balfour Beatty, as the lead of the V2R team, will construct the two-story AIC on an existing parking lot with a secure perimeter. The top floor of the facility will house the command-and-control center, and the first floor will feature maintenance bays for vehicle servicing and covered AV parking with charging stations.
Dave Campbell, Balfour Beatty operations director in Florida, said, “With our expertise in design-build projects, Balfour Beatty will lead the V2R team in successfully delivering the state-of-the-art AIC which is the gateway to making this transformative transportation solution a reality. We look forward to working with our industry partners, our client and the community in providing a modernized, innovative and sustainable transit system in LaVilla.”
Beep, a leading provider of shared autonomous mobility solutions, is contributing valuable insights to the AIC’s design and command-and-control center. Its expertise is intended to ensure that the JTA and the community plan for essential features related to safety, sustainability and efficiency.
“The introduction of the AIC is a major milestone for this industry-leading program and a reflection of how the JTA, Beep and entire U2C team are revolutionizing the integration and management of autonomous mobility networks in our communities,” added Beep CEO Joe Moye.
The full V2R team includes Superior Construction Company Southeast, Beep, WGI, Inc., Urban SDK, Miller Electric and Grayline.
JTA CEO Nat Ford said, “Throughout this project, JTA has leveraged its partners’ experience and expertise, and this groundbreaking is a visible symbol of our collective, forward-thinking progress. Today, we are one step closer in realizing our shared goal of providing a passenger service that is sustainable and adaptable and places Jacksonville as a city at the forefront of modernization.”