March 4, 2024
Pennsylvania’s first automated vehicle (AV) shuttle began operations in Philadelphia on February 27, 2024. The shuttle was awarded funding through DVRPC's Travel Options Program.
Pennsylvania’s first automated vehicle (AV) shuttle began operations in Philadelphia on February 27, 2024. The electric, zero-emissions shuttle covers a four-stop loop for visitors and employees at the Navy Yard, operating Mondays through Fridays, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. The shuttle, which requires an attendant behind the wheel who can override the self-driving technology if needed, has been testing its route and capabilities at the Navy Yard since the fall. The project is the result of planning, testing, and coordination between public and private organizations–PIDC, AECOM, Drexel University, PennDOT, Perrone Robotics, and DVRPC, which awarded funding for the shuttle through the Travel Options Program (TOP).
“This exciting project will enhance accessibility to jobs and amenities in the Navy Yard, while reducing the dependence on single occupancy vehicles,” said Ariella Maron, DVRPC Executive Director. “The funding of innovative projects that encourage the use of alternatives to driving alone is the idea behind DVRPC’s Travel Options Program, and we are pleased to have awarded a TOP grant to help fund the first AV shuttle in Greater Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This milestone is the culmination of ongoing public-private partnerships and forward-thinking planning, and we believe it is just the beginning of our region’s growing menu of electric and autonomous travel options.”
After the initial pilot within the Navy Yard, there are plans to develop an additional route between the Navy Yard and SEPTA’s NRG Station, further enhancing access to the Navy Yard from public transit, and helping to reduce congestion and carbon emissions in the region.