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
Grand Rapids Tests First Rural Autonomous Shuttle
The town launched a five-vehicle fleet aimed at improving mobility for residents in the rural community.
Self-Driving Microtransit System Coming to Contra Costa County
The autonomous, four-person pods would travel on an enclosed track, but is it an effective model for public transit?
Website Streamlines Michigan Transit Information
The tool is designed to help people with disabilities navigate the state’s complex public transit network.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
USDOT Revokes Approval for NYC Congestion Pricing
Despite the administration’s stated concern for the “working class,” 85 percent of Manhattan commuters use public transit to enter the city.
Tiny House Villages for Addressing Homelessness: An Interview with Yetimoni Kpeebi
One researcher's perspective on the potential of tiny homes and owner-built housing as one tool to fight the housing crisis.
Preserving Altadena’s Trees: A Community Effort to Save a Fire-Damaged Landscape
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena Green is working to preserve fire-damaged but recoverable trees, advocating for better assessment processes, educating homeowners, and protecting the community’s urban canopy from unnecessary removal.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Investigation Reveals Just How Badly California’s Homeless Shelters are Failing
Fraud, violence, death, and chaos follow a billion dollar investment in a temporary solution that is proving ineffective.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research