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Driverless electric shuttle charts course for Merrifield; and Dominion Energy could be on board
Hat tip, Greater Greater Washington:
Breakfast links: The future comes to Merrifield with self-driving electric shuttles
By Liam Sullivan (Contributor) June 28, 2019
By Liam Sullivan (Contributor) June 28, 2019
Driverless electric shuttle charts course for Merrifield; and Dominion Energy could be on board
By Angela Woolsey/Fairfax County Times Jun 21, 2019
Fairfax County is on track to host Virginia’s first state-funded self-driving public transportation project after receiving a grant for an autonomous electric shuttle pilot planned for the Merrifield area. ... The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a $250,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation on June 19 that the county will supplement with $50,000 in local funds.
Expected to connect passengers from the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro Station to the Mosaic District, the electric shuttle pilot will be one of the first tests of driverless technology in public transportation in Virginia, according to Fairfax County officials.
....
Under the agreement, Fairfax County would oversee all shuttle operations, including route planning and testing as well as storage arrangements. Dominion Energy will be responsible for soliciting the vehicle, providing electrical charging infrastructure, training staff on the technical operation of the shuttle, and paying all taxes associated with acquiring the shuttle.
While the county has not finalized the route that the shuttle will take, the plan is to operate the vehicle in a 25 mile-per-hour speed limit corridor with signalized intersections and mixed traffic, including bicycles and pedestrians, according to the memorandum of agreement.
....
By Angela Woolsey/Fairfax County Times Jun 21, 2019
Fairfax County is on track to host Virginia’s first state-funded self-driving public transportation project after receiving a grant for an autonomous electric shuttle pilot planned for the Merrifield area. ... The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a $250,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation on June 19 that the county will supplement with $50,000 in local funds.
Expected to connect passengers from the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro Station to the Mosaic District, the electric shuttle pilot will be one of the first tests of driverless technology in public transportation in Virginia, according to Fairfax County officials.
....
Under the agreement, Fairfax County would oversee all shuttle operations, including route planning and testing as well as storage arrangements. Dominion Energy will be responsible for soliciting the vehicle, providing electrical charging infrastructure, training staff on the technical operation of the shuttle, and paying all taxes associated with acquiring the shuttle.
While the county has not finalized the route that the shuttle will take, the plan is to operate the vehicle in a 25 mile-per-hour speed limit corridor with signalized intersections and mixed traffic, including bicycles and pedestrians, according to the memorandum of agreement.
....
