On March 6, an EasyMile autonomous shuttle bus became the first driverless vehicle to operate on California roads. This marks the first time the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) allowed a shared autonomous vehicle to travel on public roads.
“This is the first driverless shuttle in California that DMV has granted this permission,” said Jessica Gonzalez, DMV spokesperson. “It's a really big deal.”
Testing centers around Bishop Ranch, the largest mixed-use business community in San Ramon, California.
Ideal testing ground
Bishop Ranch is an ideal test site.
The 585-acre office park hosts approximately 30,000 workers, many of whom use BART for the commute. However, to get to Bishop Ranch from the nearest BART station, users board shuttles which make over a dozen stops.
As such, many users find the commute inefficient and inconvenient and, thus, choose not to use public transportation.
County transit planners hope shuttles, such as the EasyMile, change all that.
If this latest phase is successful, the hope is to roll-out dozens of EasyMile shuttles. These shuttles will offer individual routes that stop only once.
In the future, planners envision routes that go into neighborhoods to pickup city-bound commuters headed to BART.
Pilot program
The Contra Costa Transportation Agency (CCTA) leads the pilot project. The manufacturer, EasyMile, specializes in autonomous vehicle technology.
The test is possible thanks to state legislation passed in 2016, Assembly Bill 1592. The bill approved regulations governing the driverless testing and public use on California roads.
Before hitting the public roads in San Ramon, the shuttle bus successfully completed two phases of testing. These test vehicles are not equipped with a steering wheel, brake pedal, or an accelerator.
Currently, the vehicles are staffed by trained testers.
“We will look back on this permit as a turning point for autonomous vehicle technology in the great state of California,” said CCTA Executive Director Randell Iwasaki. “It is a huge step for safely developing a solution to the challenges that prevent people from using public transportation. It will transform how we travel in Contra Costa and beyond.”
Starting April 27, users in the Bishop Ranch area can experience driverless shuttle service on a limited basis. For now, an attendant is on board to answer questions and push the emergency stop button, if needed.
Autonomous shuttles
Shared autonomous shuttles offer safe, accessible service that may provide first- and last-mile transit solutions. Future use areas include: office parks, campuses, suburbs, and town centers.
Additionally, autonomous shuttles offer environmental benefits. Low-speed autonomous shuttles can help ease congestion, reduce harmful emissions, and provide affordable access to transportation hubs.
In the coming year, select employees from businesses within Bishop Ranch, will ride the shuttles as testers and evaluators.
The permission for the EasyMile shuttles from the California DMV is separate from their autonomous vehicle testing program that has been underway since 2014.
