First Transit, part of UK transport operator FirstGroup, has announced the first autonomous vehicle (AV) passenger shuttle pilot in North America. 

Working in partnership with EasyMile, First Transit will pilot the AV passenger shuttle at the Bishop Ranch Office Park in San Ramon, California. The shuttle will connect tenants to multiple transit options including bus, bike and car-sharing services.

The AV passenger shuttle will run a fixed-route, stopping at designated stops within the office park. The pilot will begin with two vehicles - each with a customer service agent onboard for passenger questions and information.

The San Ramon shuttle is designed to travel short distances using pre-programmed routes. Each passenger shuttle is equipped with a sensor and intelligent vehicle system to detect obstacles and avoid collisions. Each shuttle can carry 12 passengers and can operate for 14 hours on a battery charge.  

First Transit is also providing onsite personnel to maintain the shuttles at a facility provided by EasyMile. 

Sharad Agarwal, First Transit’s senior vice president for strategy and growth, said: “The AV passenger shuttle is also a great solution for first and last mile services, airport parking and university transportation. We are proud to partner with EasyMile for the first AV passenger shuttle pilot in North America.”

The Bishop Ranch Office Park has 585 acres with 30 buildings, and is home to more than 550 of the world’s leading companies, including Chevron, General Electric and Toyota. 

“We could not think of a better partner to work with for a pilot in North America,” said Gilbert Gagnaire, chief executive officer, EasyMile. “First Transit is leading the way in innovative transportation solutions across the globe.” 
The pilot is scheduled to launch in December.