The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver concluded service Aug. 2 on a six-month pilot program testing the viability of a self-driving shuttle that connected passengers from the 61st and Peña commuter rail station to the Panasonic and EasyMile offices.
“The 61AV pilot program is just one of many endeavors RTD is participating in as we look to expanding opportunities for public transportation,” said RTD CEO and General Manager Dave Genova. “This demonstration has allowed us to assess how we can possibly implement the technology to meet future mobility needs of the people and communities we serve.”
The 61AV aimed to evaluate the use of an autonomous vehicle to offer first- and last-mile connections. RTD collaborated with the city and county of Denver, EasyMile, which supplied the vehicle, Panasonic, Transdev and L.C. Fulenwider, Inc. RTD explained that in addition to testing AV technology in a transit environment, the pilot program provided the partners with the ability to learn how such vehicles can be used in a variety of community settings.
RTD staff will present the results of the pilot program to the RTD Board of Directors with the intent of exploring other opportunities to test self-driving shuttles as an option for moving RTD passengers.
