Boca Raton plans to launch an autonomous vehicle pilot project in about three months in a half-mile loop within Mizner Park once federal agencies approve. The goal is to eventually expand the service to city streets. Photo provided
Boca Raton is on track to begin providing another way to get around downtown without driving a car, but the added service isn’t happening fast enough for some City Council members.
Officials will launch an autonomous electric vehicle pilot project in about three months, when they expect to have needed approvals from the U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The city is starting small, offering the service only in a half-mile loop within Mizner Park. It then plans to enlarge the service area south to Palmetto Park Road before eventually expanding to include Royal Palm Place. After that, Boca Raton will offer it on city streets.
The service was proposed by Guident, a Boca Raton-based company that seeks to speed up autonomous vehicle adoption and will provide the software and remote monitoring.
The eight-seat vehicle, which will travel no faster than 25 mph, is made by Auve Tech.
The vehicle will be self-driving, but Circuit Transit, which began operating an EV shuttle service one year ago throughout the greater downtown area and later on the barrier island, will have an employee on board to take over operation if anything goes wrong, as federal rules now require.
When launched, the service will make four to six stops in Mizner Park and will be offered four days a week for nine hours a day. The initial three-month trial will cost $90,405.
City Council members, who heard program details at a May 12 meeting, were pleased the service will be starting, but exasperated that it initially will be so modest.
They doubted it would attract much ridership in Mizner Park, which is easily walkable.
“Once again, Boca Raton is late to the party,” complained Council member Yvette Drucker. She noted that West Palm Beach launched the same service in April and it already is operating on city streets.
She and other council members pressed city staff to expand the service area as soon as possible.
— Mary Hladky
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