DETROIT – It’s an autonomous, electric-powered public transit, and no, it’s not a science-fiction concept.
The city of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation previewed its latest autonomous vehicle service, called “The Connect.”
The electric-powered shuttle service will launch Tuesday (Aug. 13) and operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the work week.
Riders can hop on a nearly 11-mile loop with stops between Corktown and the Riverfront.
According to the city, people can track the shuttle’s route and call to make a reservation. An app is currently in the works for the service.
Don’t expect to see an empty seat on the driver’s side.
According to Tim Slusser, the city’s chief of mobility and innovation, the pilot program will initially use shuttle drivers before transitioning into autonomy, which will happen within the next month or so.
“Once we flip the switch and go into full autonomy, there will be, at all times, will be what’s always referred to as a safety operator behind the wheel,” said Slusser.
Perrone Robotics is behind the autonomous vehicle system.
“The shuttle is designed to always err on the side of caution,” said Lavell Riddle, field operations manager at the company.
Riddle told Local 4 that the safety operator could control the technology in real-time, whether it’s inclement weather or roadside construction.
Recently, a similar program was launched in the city, targeting older or disabled riders.
The state of Michigan also partnered with the city in the project and called it a blueprint for merging transportation and technology.
“This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate how it works in the city of Detroit, especially when you think about an urban environment who are going from Point A to Point B,” said Justine Johnson, chief mobility officer for the state.
If you’re wondering how long the service would last, officials said the project is funded for about two years.
The pilot program secured $1.5 million in first-year funding from Michigan Central, Bedrock, and the State of Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification and an additional $1.67 million from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The city plans to add a fifth shuttle to its fleet. All rides are free to the public.
Slusser expects most wait times at shuttle stops to be at most 15 minutes during peak times.
Next, project leaders say they want to hear feedback from riders to collect research data and modify the service as needed.