This week Calgary councillors will take a look at a pilot project for an autonomous shuttle that would carry visitors between two popular city attractions.
Driverless shuttles are already operating in many cities in Europe and Asia and on Wednesday council will see how the self-driving vehicles could fit in here.
Researchers at the University of Alberta will launch the two to four week pilot next year, which will provide riders with a link between the zoo LRT exit and TELUS Spark.
The slow-moving vehicle would travel just over a kilometre from one point to the other and transportation experts who have reviewed the system say it’s safe.
“The vehicles are quite safe they've been tested in other municipalities, Singapore has a permanent installation. They also run very slow about 12 kilometres an hour so they can stop on a dime so they are a lot better than human drivers,” said Andrew Sedor, City of Calgary Transportation Planner.
Autonomous buses could one day be used as community shuttles and could be worked into the current transportation strategy.
“They will be a lot more nimble and a lot more on demand than busses so feeder bus services, and things like that, would be a place where autonomous vehicles could dovetail with the kind of city we’re building,” said Ward 9 Councillor Gian-Carlo Cara.
Council will also consider the downfalls of the system including; increased congestion and decreased revenue from parking and traffic infractions.
(With files from Kevin Green)
