Driverless Electric Shuttle Under Consideration To Ease Traffic In Pinellas County Cities

CLEARWATER, FL — After successful test runs in St. Petersburg and Dunedin, AVA is now hitting the road in Clearwater Beach.

AVA, the Autonomous Vehicle Advantage, is being used for a three-month pilot run along South Gulfview Boulevard in Clearwater Beach.

Through a partnership with Beep, the manufacturer of AVA, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority are testing the driverless shuttle along the heavily traveled road fronting Clearwater Beach.

The TBRTA is funding the trial run.

The free shuttle service operates from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday until Feb. 27.

The AVA shuttles run along a pre-determined route using sensors and GPS tracking. Although AVA is driverless, there is an attendant on board to serve as an ambassador, explaining how the shuttle works and to step in if a human driver is needed.

The air-conditioned autonomous shuttles are 100-percent electric and can react 10 times faster than a human can to avoid accidents with the use of 12 sensors that detect objects 360 degrees around the shuttle.

In addition to running on electricity instead of fossil fuel, Moye said the AVA shuttle doesn't need oil or engine coolants that can harm the environment. It costs less than $30 a month to charge the vehicle.

The autonomous shuttle operates at a maximum speed of 15 mph and can accommodate eight passengers.

“We are beyond excited for the Clearwater community to try and experience AVA,” said Brad Miller, chief executive officer of the PSTA. “We invite people of all ages to enjoy and leave with a better understanding of how technology can help enhance safety while providing clean-energy solutions that could transform transportation.”

“TBARTA is proud to partner once again with PSTA in providing financial support for this project,” said David Green, executive director of TBARTA. “AVA not only represents the future of autonomous transportation, it is also a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together.”

“The AVA project is the latest example of how PSTA is leading the way on innovative, sustainable transportation options," said Pat Gerard, chairwoman of the Pinellas County Commission. "We’re excited to bring this driverless technology to North County and offer more people a chance to experience AVA."

“Continuing our partnership with PSTA only furthers our commitment to safely test autonomous shuttles in a variety of environments," said Beep CEO Joe Moye. "Launching AVA in the city of Clearwater along Gulfview Boulevard will provide residents and visitors a safe, sustainable and reliable means of connecting to the beach walk hotel area and the Bayway district."

A similar pilot program is taking place in Tampa.

Following the pilot period, Beep hopes Pinellas and Hillsborough counties will make the shuttles a permanent fixture in congested areas of the counties.

"There are many benefits of riding in an autonomous vehicle like AVA over most traditional vehicles," Moye said. "AVA is a careful and defensive driver, is better for the environment and has the potential to provide greater connectivity for riders."

Riders are required to wear a seatbelt and use a face covering while in the shuttle.

If the county decides to invest in a permanent fleet of AVA shuttles, there is state and federal grant funds available to help pay for the shuttles.

Residents who have tried the AVA shuttle in St. Petersburg, Dunedin and now Clearwater are urged to take a PSTA survey to help determine if the public wants the shuttles.

Additionally, the PSTA is transitioning to energy-efficient, environmentally friendly electric buses.

Last month the PSTA agreed to purchase 60 electric buses over the next five years after unveiling four electric depot bus chargers in June for the six all-electric buses the county has already purchased. The new electric buses are expected to be on Pinellas County roads by 2024.

“PSTA is determined to deliver on the promise of a zero-emissions fleet by 2050,” said Miller. “PSTA is leading the way for our region to meet our green goal.”

Each electric bus is recharged one of three ways: overnight charging, regenerative braking and on-route charging stations. The battery range averages 200 miles or about 14 hours of operating time on a single charge. Miller said the PSTA will save about $20,000 a year in diesel fuel costs with each electric bus.

“Through this electric vehicle investment, we are ensuring that Pinellas County residents benefit from cleaner air as we move toward a more sustainable, carbon-free energy system," Gerard said.

Electric buses cost less to run than diesel, are easier to maintain, and each electric bus reduces 135 tons of carbon emissions from the air per year by providing public transit services as an alternative to personal vehicle use, Miller said.

Additionally, the new SunRunner bus service is expected to launch this summer, using dedicated bus lanes between downtown St. Petersburg and the Pinellas beaches with 25 station stops. The buses will run every 15 minutes and the 11-mile trip from downtown St. Petersburg to St. Pete Beach beaches will take 30 to 35 minutes.

The total cost of the SunRunner system is $41 million with the Federal Transit Authority kicking in $20.4 million and other funding coming from the state.

The PSTA currently operates 40 bus and trolley routes with a fleet of 210 vehicles. The transit authority recently expanded its trolley service to four routes: the Central Avenue Trolley, the Downtown Looper, the Jolley Trolley and the Suncoast Beach Trolley.

See related story: 2nd Driverless, Electric Shuttle Service Launched In Tampa