A pilot program will provide free rides to help rural and elderly residents reach more destinations.

An 18-month pilot program will bring five autonomous shuttles to Grand Rapids, Minnesota as part of the state’s Autonomous Rural Transit Initiative (goMARTI), reports Mary Balstad for LPTV.
“One major reason for bringing these shuttles northbound is to decrease isolation and increase mobility for those with disabilities,” Balstad explains. “Other considerations toward implementing these shuttles in the area include understanding the economic impact of self-driving shuttles in a rural community, engaging and educating the local population about autonomous vehicles, and advancing this technology through more difficult circumstances, such as through winter months.”
According to the article, “Passengers can access the shuttles by using the VIA app or through First Call 211. Three of the vehicles are also ADA compliant.” During the program, the shuttles will have operators present to ensure proper functioning and manually control the vehicles if needed.
FULL STORY: Self-Driving Shuttles to Share the Streets of Grand Rapids

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?

LA’s Tree Emergency Goes Beyond Vandalism
After a vandal destroyed dozens of downtown LA trees, Mayor Karen Bass vowed to replace them. Days later, she slashed the city’s tree budget.

Sacramento Leads Nation With Bus-Mounted Bike Lane Enforcement Cameras
The city is the first to use its bus-mounted traffic enforcement system to cite drivers who park or drive in bike lanes.

Seattle Voters Approve Social Housing Referendum
Voters approved a corporate tax to fund the city’s housing authority despite an opposition campaign funded by Amazon and Microsoft.
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