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Making Autonomous Transit Accessible

Grantor
• Federal Transit Administration (FTA) through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)

Recipient/Client
• Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)

Partners
• LBNL
• Energy Solutions
• ZNE Alliance

Duration
• 2020–2022
• 2-year project

Project Highlights
• Project management
• User testing planning
• Data collection and analysis
• Forming advisory committee
• Funding pursuit
• Knowledge transfer

Sponsor
• Federal Transit Administration

The FTA funded this pilot project to demonstrate a fully electric and ADA-compliant autonomous 12-passenger shuttle to provide accessible transportation services to veterans and staff on the Veterans Administration Hospital Campus in Palo Alto.

Our goals with partner Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) were to show that autonomous transit can work for everyone.  In addition to planning, we developed testing protocols and use cases, surveyed riders using mobility devices on the vehicle’s system features, and profiled policy needs to assure consistent accessibility features for future autonomy-based transit services.  Other partners include the US Department of Veteran Affairs, Palo Alto Health Care System, Mineta Transportation Institute, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, The City of San Jose, The City of Palo Alto, and San Jose State University.