Self-Driving Car Service Launches In Martinez: What To Know

MARTINEZ, CA—The Contra Costa Transportation Authority and May Mobility, an autonomous driving technology company, launched PRESTO on Thursday. The service is for the general public and patients at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, the county hospital in Martinez.

The service aims to improve access to healthcare in the area by providing another reliable and convenient mode of transportation. The free service runs Monday through Friday, first offering rides to county hospital patients from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Then, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., it is open to all area residents.

In addition to stops at the county hospital healthcare facilities and local pharmacies, the service zone includes stops that help connect Martinez residents to their community, including residential areas, shopping districts, and downtown Martinez.

“CCTA is once again making history here in Northern California by offering a free, autonomous vehicle transportation service to City of Martinez residents,” said CCTA Chair Newell Arnerich. “We established the County Hospital element to aid patients who may need rides in the afternoon to resources in the community. As an added benefit to residents, during the evening hours, the service will carry passengers to an array of destinations in the City of Martinez.”

May Mobility equipped a fleet of seven Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS vehicles with its patented Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) AD technology. MPDM uses in-situ AI to learn in real-time by imagining thousands of “what-if” scenarios every second while it drives and then commits to the safest and most comfortable maneuvers within milliseconds.

Each shared AV seats five passengers and all have an attendant on board to answer questions and assist with passenger entry and exit if needed. Three of the self-driving cars are wheelchair accessible, with an ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp allowing entry and exit through the back of the vehicle. The wheelchair-accessible cars seat up to three passengers, including one wheelchair user.

"May Mobility is dedicated to filling gaps in public transportation," said May Mobility Chief Commercial Officer Manik Dhar. "With the PRESTO shared AV pilot in Martinez, we’re redefining how communities connect and move. We’re excited to see how our patented MPDM technology will service local residents and contribute to the broader adoption of AVs."

CCTA and May Mobility have also partnered with County Connection, which provides fixed-route and paratransit bus service for Central Contra Costa County communities.

“County Connection has partnered with our paratransit contractor to provide union drivers to serve as safety stewards in each Martinez ADS vehicle,” said County Connection General Manager Bill Churchill. "[This] underscores our commitment to innovative transportation deployments ensuring everyone has the freedom to travel safely and independently.”

How To Ride Presto

Patients can book rides to or from the County Hospital and to a preferred pharmacy from a set list of locations by calling 925-995-3797 or by arranging travel with a hospital representative.

Interested residents can book rides to a list of designated stops within the service zone by using the May Mobility app or by calling 925-995-3797.

Passenger feedback plays a critical role in shaping the future of autonomous mobility, as federal transportation officials will use data from the City of Martinez PRESTO pilot to advance standards in automated mobility. A grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation funds the pilot.

Martinez marks the third location where CCTA has introduced an autonomous vehicle pilot program. The others were recently rolled out in Bishop Ranch/San Ramon and at Rossmoor in Walnut Creek.

To learn more about PRESTO, go online to Ridepresto.com/martinez/.