The City of Altamonte Springs is launching a phased autonomous vehicle (AV) pilot with Beep to explore alternative transit modes and offer solutions for the changing economic and urban landscape.
The program is called CraneRIDES, which is an environmentally friendly and proactive initiative to extend mobility and access to goods and services for residents, visitors and businesses.
Beep will provide the technology and shuttles to make this possible. Beep has a history of deploying and testing autonomous shuttles in communities from Florida to California.
This AV shuttle pilot provides convenient and sustainable transport options to connect people to major activity centres. Residents and visitors who live, work, and play in Altamonte Springs can hop on to experience the future of this emerging technology.
The State of Florida’s Department of Transportation (FDOT) chose the City to serve as a testbed for the AV shuttle project and provide data on implementing the technology in other municipalities. To onboard this new pilot project, the FDOT awarded a service development grant which provides 50% funding of the $2.4 million for the first three years of operation.
John E. Tyler, FDOT district 5 secretary, said:
“The State has a vested interest in developing multiple modes of transportation that can efficiently move people. Autonomous vehicles can be part of the solution,”
“With the hundreds of people moving to Florida every day, building new roads cannot be our only focus. Our partnership with the City of Altamonte Springs creates a scalable, replicable model that other Florida communities can now evaluate through hands-on experience because of our CraneRIDES AV partnership with the City.”
The first phase of CraneRIDES will test two electric AV shuttles on a nearly 1.5-mile route connecting Altamonte Mall, Renaissance Centre, Cranes Roost and AMC Theatre. Residents and visitors who use the AV shuttle network can experience the vehicles seven days a week by utilizing one of four stops along the route.
Futures phases of the Altamonte Springs project will further expand and enhance passenger services with the introduction of these new vehicles and extend connectivity to the AdventHealth Altamonte campus, Altamonte Springs SunRail Station and CenterPointe, a planned 55-acre mixed-use development with a hotel, retail establishments and residential living.
