DETROIT – A new autonomous vehicle shuttle service that will run from one end of Downtown Detroit to another is set to launch this summer, officials announced Tuesday.
The city is working with the state and Bedrock to run a pilot, autonomous vehicle shuttle service called the Connect. Passengers will be able to ride for free from Michigan Central, the revitalized train station in Corktown, to Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design on the east side, and back.
The autonomous vehicle shuttle -- which will have a safety operator behind the wheel -- will exclusively use Ford’s electric E-Transit vans to run the nearly 11-mile route. It’s believed riders will only be taken to one location from the other, without any stops in between.
Below is a map of the Connect’s route, courtesy of the city of Detroit.
The Connect is expected to start running “late” this summer, though no specific date was announced Tuesday. The shuttle service will kick off with four Ford vans that will offer a “blend of passenger seats and wheelchair accessibility.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how many seats would be offered in each shuttle. Traditional, non-electric Ford Transit vans typically have seating for 12 people.
Officials say the pilot shuttle service will help stakeholders learn and refine autonomous vehicle transit services “to meet the diverse needs of the surrounding community.” It’s part of the city’s reported goal of expanding and enhancing its transit services, and making them affordable for the community.
“This shuttle service pilot is an example of future transportation innovation taking place in Detroit and the Michigan Central development area, with the goal of setting a new standard for sustainable, efficient, and community-centric mobility,” the city said in a press release on April 2.
Bedrock, Michigan Central -- which is owned by Ford Motor Co. -- and the city of Detroit say they will work together and with other groups to design and implement operations for the new service. Before the Connect launches, its autonomous shuttles are expected to undergo testing on and off the road for several months.