Commuters in Denver will be offered the chance of an alternative form of transportation to work after the state’s first autonomous shuttle was unveiled.
For the next six months, a fully electric, driverless shuttle will be taking passengers on a loop from the 61st and Pena commuter rail station, to the Panasonic and EasyMile offices, and to the 61st and Peña Park-n-Ride lot, via four stops.
The shuttle, developed by French autonomous company Easymile and operated by Transdev, will run on a predetermined route from Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 6:00pm, making the loop every 15 minutes.
It will be capable of carrying up to 12 passengers at a speed between 12-15mph (19-24km/h) and will operate free of charge. While it will have no driver, there will be an ‘ambassador’ on board at all times. The purpose of the shuttle trial is to assess the viability of autonomous services in providing first- and last-mile connections to and from transit.
“We’re excited to see how driverless technology will work in Denver and to embrace new, innovative and better mobility options to move more people and improve travel for residents and visitors alike,” said Mayor Michael Hancock.
Data collected on usage and operability will be shared between project partners to improve future deployments and bring autonomous services into wider usage.