The City of Gainesville in partnership with Transdev will deploy Gainesville Autonomous Transit Shuttle (GAToRS). GAToRS connects the City of Gainesville Innovation District and downtown with the University of Florida campus. The goal of the Gainesville Autonomous Transit Shuttle (AV) is to provide regular transit service on SW 2nd Avenue with a maximum headway of 20 minutes. Phase 2 began March 2021 extending the route to SW 13th Street and SW 4th Avenue (see map). Phase 2 will test V2I technology.
Starting Feb. 3, Gainesville residents will be able to board an autonomous shuttle for test rides between downtown Gainesville and the University of Florida campus. The shuttle will be operated by the City of Gainesville’s Regional Transit System (RTS) and has been funded by the Florida Department of Transportation.
The pilot project is part of the I-STREET real-world testbed, a partnership between the University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI), the Florida Department of Transportation, and the City of Gainesville. The testbed provides unique opportunities for testing transportation technologies and allows innovative research to be developed and deployed throughout the city and the UF roadway network.
The autonomous shuttle will operate on a daily fixed route along SE 2nd Ave. between the parking garage on SW 2nd St. and UF Innovate │ The Hub from 8 a.m. to noon and again between 3 -7 p.m. Funding from the Florida Department of Transportation will allow all passengers to ride the shuttle free of charge.
Because the shuttle is still in its testing phase, an operator will be on board in the event an override of the controls becomes necessary. The shuttle will operate until June 30, 2020. The UFTI, a unit of the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, will be conducting an evaluation study, funded by UF, to document traveler experiences and behaviors.
Autonomous shuttles (AS) demonstration projects provide researchers with opportunities to collaborate with industry, community stakeholders, policy makers, local, state, and federal transit authorities. Lessons learned and refinements made during these demonstrations are pivotal in determining the future role of AS in public transit. I-STREET evaluated two AS implementations (Gainesville and Lake Nona in Florida) from three perspectives that examine the interactions of road users with AS. First, public perception was assessed through “pre-post” exposure surveys. Second, older adults’ experiences were examined through driving simulation and on-road AS ride. Third, traffic flow characteristics and road user behavior were examined via videos and field data.
The findings were consistent between the AS implementations in the two cities; therefore, it is likely that other AS implementations may find similar effects. Across all three studies, perceptions were influenced after riding in, walking near, or driving by the AS. Intention to use the AS and perceived safety increased after exposure to the AS. However, the low speed of the AS negatively influenced the acceptance of AS. Adjustments addressing speeds and availability of information may help increase the acceptance of AS. Policy makers may consider AS deployments as solutions to address existing equity issues in mobility disadvantaged communities.
Accelerator pilot
I-STREETTM is ideal for new and established companies. It's a testing ground for innovative technologies in mobility, robotics and smart cities. Pilots include the opportunity to deploy technologies in the lab or the field with UFTI staff and workshops with leading industry partners and investors to expand market adoption. Resources include work space, researchers, grant development and access to the University of Florida campus and surrounding Florida roadways.
Facilities
Since 2017, over 20 pilots, 200 IoT devices, and 5G have been deployed to support industry and government partners.
A student village workspace, traffic monitoring area and a 500-square-foot traffic and signals lab.
A three-bay vehicle lab and garage for installation, maintenance and testing.
I-STREET™ technologies include video cameras and roadside units that communicate through direct radio communication with onboard units installed inside selected vehicles.
Access a network of public transit, parking and micro-mobility adoption to testing mobility solutions.
Access a roadway network across interstates, highways, and local roads.
Access the University of Florida campus facilities and surrounding community.
