Bay Area's First Autonomous Shuttles Debut At Bishop Ranch

SAN RAMON, CA – The Bay Area’s first autonomous shuttle pilot program launches this week in San Ramon, where a suite of free, self-driving, low-speed, zero-emission shuttles are ready to move guests between four different destinations within Bishop Ranch. This marks the start of the Contra Costa Transportation Authority’s PRESTO program, which plans to eventually introduce several new transportation options that include autonomous shuttles, bike share, scooter share and express bus service.

The public is welcome to try out the new shuttles Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The Bishop Ranch Autonomous Shuttle Program plans to run through fall 2023. "We hope that the San Ramon pilot is successful and that there is desire to continue the service at that location beyond the fall in partnership with Bishop Ranch," CCTA spokesperson Linsey Willis told Patch.

The PRESTO shuttles drive 15 miles an hour and bring up to eight passengers at a time along a route with four stops: the San Ramon Transit Center, GE Digital, City Center, and the SAP headquarters. Shuttles will run every 20-25 minutes. PRESTO shuttles do not have drivers, pedals, or a steering wheel, but an attendant is always on board. Shuttles are also monitored by the Beep Command Center, according to CCTA.

Users can track shuttle schedules in real-time using the Moovit app. For maps, FAQs, and a video tour of the shuttles, visit ridepresto.com.

The project was made possible through an $8 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration’s Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment program. CCTA partnered with Beep, a company that specializes in testing autonomous shuttles across the country.

CCTA and Beep will study the pilot program and consider ways to soon provide permanent transit solutions throughout the city. CCTA said it also plans to debut the autonomous shuttles in public events throughout the county this summer, including in Rossmoor.

“We’re excited to be able to provide the public with free access to these zero-emission, low-speed, autonomous shuttles. The service can help cut down on harmful emissions, reduce congestion on our roads, and create a new, accessible connection to transportation hubs throughout Contra Costa County, and we’re grateful to Bishop Ranch and the city of San Ramon for sharing our vision of a brighter future for the county,” CCTA Board Chair Federal Glover said in a statement.

“We are proud to be a part of such a beneficial project and we look forward to seeing members of the community trying out PRESTO here on Bishop Ranch,” said Alex Mehran Jr., the president and CEO of Bishop Ranch owner Sunset Development, in a statement.