Florida's Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has launched what it says is the first public transportation service powered by autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the US.
Navi (Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation) operates Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm along a 3.5-mile route in Jacksonville along Bay Street, which runs from residential areas through the business district to sports, dining and entertainment venues.
Free for users until 30 September, the service consists of 14 electric Ford e-Transit vehicles, seating up to nine passengers, integrated with Oxa's automated driving system (ADS).
JTA CEO Nat Ford says: "Shared mobility will help solve transportation challenges and build communities by maximising independence and improving accessibility."
The NAVI service was made possible in partnership with the Balfour Beatty Vision 2 Reality (V2R) team, including Beep, Superior Construction Company Southeast, WGI, Urban SDK, Miller Electric and Grayline.
The JTA plans to incorporate the Holon autonomous shuttle - the company is building a factory in Jacksonville - once the vehicles become available in 2027.
JTA board of directors vice chair Aundra Wallace says: “With Holon building its production facility here, we are catching the attention of new businesses and industries nationwide. Our city is growing and evolving for the next generation.”
Over the next 10 years, the JTA plans to complete phases 2 and 3 of the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C).
This involves converting an existing automated elevated people mover system - the Skyway - into an elevated roadway for AVs to connect the urban core with medical, education business and residential destinations in Springfield, Brooklyn, Riverside and San Marco.
“As AV technology and regulations evolve, Jacksonville's programme will make a positive impact beyond Northeast Florida by revolutionising autonomous mobility solutions in many communities," says Beep CEO Joe Moye. "The Navi service launch is just the beginning,”
