Beltline seeks funding for driverless shuttle pilot program during World Cup

A rendering of the proposed pilot shuttle Courtesy ABI Atlanta Beltline Inc ABI detailed plans for an autonomous shuttle pilot campaign connecting Atlanta University Center AUC to the West End MARTA station and the Southwest Trail The pilot initiative would run from January to December which means the driverless shuttles operated by Beep would be available during the FIFA World Cup matches happening next summer Beltline and Beep agents made the presentation during a special-called meeting of the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority on May Since the authority has million remaining in its trust fund for the fiscal year the Beltline appealed for million for the shuttle pilot Beltline Senior Transportation Engineer Shaun Green announced the entire pilot initiative is expected to cost million with the remainder being shouldered by ABI The two mile passage for the Beep shuttles would take visitors from the AUC campuses to a dedicated bay at West End MARTA station and then on to the Lee White entertainment complex on the Beltline The specially-outfitted Ford shuttles would run every to minutes Officers noted the shuttle provision might be free for riders during the pilot effort but is considering options for fare collection ABI President and CEO Clyde Higgs disclosed the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected for the World Cup was the perfect time to experiment with the shuttle provision This kind of partnership and innovative thinking is exactly what will fill in the gaps in our existing transit system and help us begin to build inclusive and robust transportation options that include multiple transit modes providing direct connections to the Beltline and benefit all Atlantans Higgs reported The authority is expected to vote on funding the pilot effort at its June meeting Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has called for more connectivity to the -mile Beltline Trail including building four new infill MARTA Stations Putting actual transit and whether it should be a streetcar or autonomous vehicles on the Beltline remains a contentious topic between the city advocates and proponents The post Beltline seeks funding for driverless shuttle pilot operation during World Cup appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta