An autonomous shuttle began operating between downtown Gainesville and the University of Florida (UF) campus on Monday, Feb. 3.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) funded the shuttle, and the City of Gainesville’s Regional Transit System (RTS) is operating it. 

The pilot project is part of a real-world testbed called I-STREET. The testbed offers unique opportunities to test transportation technologies, and allows for the development and deployment of innovative research throughout the city and the UF roadway network. The testbed is a result of a partnership between the University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI), FDOT, and the City of Gainesville.

An operator will be onboard the shuttle at all times to take over control if necessary. Expected to operate until June 30, 2020, the shuttle will travel on a daily fixed route from 8 a.m. to noon and again between 3 and 7 p.m. It will be free of charge for passengers thanks to funding from FDOT.

An evaluation study will be conducted by the UFTI, which is a unit of the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. Funded by UF, the study will document traveler experiences and behaviors.