Autonomous shuttle test in Denver, CO.
Denver, Colorado, United States
Summary Information
In January 2019, Denver's Regional Transportation District launched a pilot of a low speed autonomous shuttle on public roads. The project's objectives are to:
- Introduce AV technology safely on a public roadway in the Denver metro area
- Provide additional connectivity between station and businesses and residential areas
- Explore first/last mile solutions for future growth throughout the District
- Test AV technology in a transit setting.
The agency leased EasyMile's 12-passenger self-driving, a four-wheel electric vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals, for its pilot. The shuttle operates on a 1-mile circulator route near the Denver airport following a regular bus route. It runs every 15 minutes from 10 AM to 6 PM on weekdays, mostly using public streets.
The EZ10 has no steering wheel or brake pedal and navigates autonomously using pre-mapped routes. It has a maximum speed of 25 mi/h, but the typical operating speed is 12 to 15 mi/h. An attendant is onboard to answer questions, and the vehicle is monitored remotely.
The cost of the pilot was estimated at $150,000.
Self-driving shuttle offers Denver a glimpse of its future — but will riders jump on board?
Autonomous shuttle bus operational test: $150K.