www.govtech.com Open in urlscan Pro
13.32.121.45  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

 * Newsletters
 * Webinars
 * Events
 * Magazine
 * Papers

 * Emerging Tech
 * GovTech Biz
 * Transportation
 * Workforce
 * More
   
    * Topics
    * Center for Digital Education
    * Center for Digital Government
    * Emergency Management
    * FutureStructure
    * Special Districts
    * Digital Communities
    * Digital States
    * GovTech Top 25
    * GovTech 100

 * Search

Menu

 * Emerging Tech
 * GovTech Biz
 * Transportation
 * Workforce
 * More
   
    * Topics
    * Center for Digital Education
    * Center for Digital Government
    * Emergency Management
    * FutureStructure
    * Special Districts
    * Digital Communities
    * Digital States
    * GovTech Top 25
    * GovTech 100

 * Search

CONTINUE TO SITE
Breaking News:

Follow our coverage of Hurricane Ian on our sister publication, Emergency
Management.

Close
✕


IE 11 NOT SUPPORTED

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.
 * Special: AI
 * Civic
 * Cloud
 * Cybersecurity
 * HHS
 * Industry
 * K-12
 * Local
 * Network
 * Work


FutureStructure


MINNESOTA CLOSES OUT ONE AV SHUTTLE PROJECT, OPENS TWO MORE


THE AUTONOMOUS TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS BEING LEAD BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ARE TESTING NOT THE TECHNOLOGY, BUT THE USE CASES THESE NEW FORMS
OF MOBILITY CAN SERVE.

September 22, 2022 • 
Skip Descant
 * Facebook
 * LinkedIn
 * Twitter
 * Print
 * Email

Shutterstock/Golden Sikorka
As Minnesota concludes one autonomous shuttle pilot project, two others continue
to explore how the technology can expand transportation options.

The Med City Mover concluded its yearlong project in Rochester at the end of
August, transporting some 3,000 passengers along its roughly 1.5-mile route in
downtown, serving the Mayo Clinic.

“It’s too soon to have definitive data and summaries of ridership experience. We
can say the early responses were primarily favorable,” said Cory Johnson,
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Med City Mover project manager.



The state is set to begin two new self-driving shuttle projects in White Bear
Lake and Grand Rapids. The 1.5-mile demonstration project in White Bear Lake, a
community just north of St. Paul, includes a number of partners like the YMCA;
the city; the University of Minnesota; NewTrax, the shuttle operator; and
others. The project’s route is specifically designed to serve populations who
may not have many transportation options. These can be people such as elderly,
those with disabilities or low income.

The vehicles used for this project, known as Bear Tracks, are the sort of small,
electric autonomous shuttles used in the Med City Mover project, which can
accommodate up to 10 passengers and will serve a fixed route.

The project in Grand Rapids, known as goMARTI (Minnesota’s Autonomous Rural
Transit Initiative), will run for 18 months, and include an area across 17
square miles with some 70 pickup and drop-off locations. MARTI will be unique
from other AV shuttle projects in the state due to its on-demand nature. Riders
will access the system via an app.



The MARTI project will include five Toyota Sienna Auto-MaaS
(mobility-as-a-service) vehicles. Three of these will be ADA accommodating. The
project will employ some 20 workers, and include 13 partnerships, which include
the city of Grand Rapids, Itasca County, MnDOT, May Mobility and others.

In all of these AV projects, a key goal is to explore the idea of opening up
more transportation options for those residents, visitors or others who may not
have access to transportation.

“Like any pilot project, the goal is to learn. We look forward to learning much
from the three projects once they conclude and we can analyze all data and
responses to surveys," said Johnson.

“We learned that many Minnesotans appreciated having another option and access
to future transportation technologies and tests,” he added.

Other transportation leaders have also viewed AV shuttles — a quickly emerging
technology trying to find its place within the mobility ecosystem — with a
cautionary eye, saying these should make the transportation pie bigger, not just
give some riders a larger slice of pie.

When asked about autonomous vehicles, and their use cases, at the CoMotion MIAMI
conference in April, Karina Ricks, the associate administrator for research,
demonstration and innovation at the Federal Transit Administration, said the use
cases for AVs are around how to give more choices to people without many — such
as elderly, riders with special needs or low income.

“Transit is the preferred choice. But transit isn’t always there at the moment
that you want it,” said Ricks, who formerly led the Pittsburgh Department of
Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI).

The role of the public sector is to ask, “How do we fill that market gap?” she
added.

“Not just how do we continue to facilitate this industry, just adding more to
where there’s a rich and robust market,” said Ricks. “But how do we, by offering
up the city as a testbed … How do we then, also ask something of the industry?
...”
 * Facebook
 * LinkedIn
 * Twitter
 * Print
 * Email


TAGS:

Autonomous VehiclesTransportationState GovernmentMinnesota
Skip Descant
Skip Descant writes about smart cities, the Internet of Things, transportation
and other areas. He spent more than 12 years reporting for daily newspapers in
Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and California. He lives in downtown Yreka,
Calif.
See More Stories by Skip Descant
Featured Resources

Cisco Networking Solutions

Powering a Future of Inclusive Connectivity

Inclusive Infrastructure

Cisco Solutions to Bridge the Digital Divide

Identify Funding Opportunities through Cisco's Public Funding Office









IIJA & ARP Broadband Funding
A Flourish map

Cisco is helping communities like yours bridge the digital divide to power a
more inclusive future for all. Our experts in mass scale infrastructure,
community broadband, and security can help you get started today at
www.cisco.com/go/digitaldivide.


Never miss a story with the GovTech Today newsletter.
SUBSCRIBE


 *  * Events
    * Webinars
    * Papers
    * Sponsored: Industry Q&As
    * Industry Academy
    * Industry Navigator

 *  * About
    * Privacy
    * Contact
    * Advertise

Stay Up To Date
Get smart with GovTech. Your guide to technology in state & local government.
SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
GET THE MAGAZINE


©2022 All rights reserved. e.Republic
California Residents - Do Not Sell My Personal Information
 * twitter
 * youtube
 * facebook
 * linkedin



By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your
device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our
marketing efforts.

Accept All Cookies
Reject All
Cookies Settings


PRIVACY PREFERENCE CENTER




 * YOUR PRIVACY


 * TARGETING COOKIES


 * FUNCTIONAL COOKIES


 * STRICTLY NECESSARY COOKIES


 * PERFORMANCE COOKIES

YOUR PRIVACY

When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your
browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you,
your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you
expect it to. The information does not usually directly identify you, but it can
give you a more personalized web experience. Because we respect your right to
privacy, you can choose not to allow some types of cookies. Click on the
different category headings to find out more and change our default settings.
However, blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience of the site
and the services we are able to offer.

TARGETING COOKIES

Targeting Cookies


These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may
be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you
relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal
information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet
device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted
advertising.

FUNCTIONAL COOKIES

Functional Cookies


These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and
personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose
services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some
or all of these services may not function properly.

STRICTLY NECESSARY COOKIES

Always Active

These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched
off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you
which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy
preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block
or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work.
These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information.

PERFORMANCE COOKIES

Performance Cookies


These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and
improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the
most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All
information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you
do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and
will not be able to monitor its performance.

Back Button


BACK

Filter Button
Consent Leg.Interest
checkbox label label
checkbox label label
checkbox label label

Clear
checkbox label label
Apply Cancel
Confirm My Choices
Reject All Allow All