Automated Bus Consortium
Greg Walker
AECOM, Senior Manager
Phoenix, Arizona
Concept Summary
• Automated small vehicle shuttle technology is proven
• Appears feasible to transfer AV shuttle technology to full-sized buses
• Vendors need a market to cost-effectively produce these buses
• Concept: Joint procurement of 75-100 buses by 12 agencies
Goal of Automated Bus Consortium Project
Deploy full-sized, full-speed automated buses:
• In a variety of geographies and applications to advance the industry understanding of the technology
• Leverage the technology to improve safety, reliability, operating efficiency and customer experience
Automation Scale
Consortium Partners• Connecticut DOT
• Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART)
• Department of Rail and Public Transportation
(DRPT) / Hampton Roads Transit (HRT)
• Foothill Transit
• Houston Metro
• Long Beach Transit Authority (LBTA)
• Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit
Authority (LA METRO)
• Metrolink (Moline)
• Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority
(MARTA)
• Michigan DOT/Planet M
• Minnesota DOT
• Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
(PSTA/FDOT)
Automated Bus Consortium Program Overview
State of the Industry
Automated Bus Technology
Scotland to Test First Autonomous Full-sized Bus Fleet in Passenger Service (11/26/18)
• Service to begin in 2020 with 5 – 42 passengers, 38 foot ADL buses between Fife and Edinburgh
• Level 4 Automation: Driver on-board during operation
• In 2019 the bus will be used in autonomous mode only within the depot environment, to carry out:
- Parking- Moving to fuel station- Bus washing
Self-driving buses to hit Swedish public roads next year (02/21/19)
• Collaboration of Scania and Nobina
• Electric-powered
• Running in a special lane on existing route
• To be tested without passengers on 1 km section of route
• Passenger service will cover 5 km
New Flyer Launches Program Focused on Self-driven Buses (5/08/19)
• St. CLOUD — New Flyer of America Inc. announced the launch of a program aimed at possibly creating self-driven buses
• In a news release, New Flyer and New Flyer Industries Canada announced the launch of their Autonomous Technology Program, which includes development and deployment of technology for advanced driver-assistance systems and automated vehicles
• The largest bus manufacturer in North America said the program will have a guiding principle focused on public safety and will adhere to the Society of Automotive Engineers' definition and recommended practice for levels of driving automation
• New Flyer will actively participate in development of SAE related recommended practices and standards
Automated Bus Consortium Program Overview
Program to Advance Full-Sized Automated Bus
Program Framework
1
2Autonomous bus deployment program
AECOM will continue to invest in a technology
assessment of automated transit
technologies to better assess the industry,
market trends, and technology
AECOM will act as the Program Manager to
define, procure, deploy and evaluate
emerging automated transit technology in PDA
and CDA phases
Technology assessment A consortium of transit agencies
3Deployed technology by 2021/2022 in multiple APPLICATIONS
Multiple transit agencies would join the program
to procure jointly 75-100 automated, full-size
and full-speed buses.
4 The consortium will deploy the vehicles in a
variety of environments and share lessons learned
for future technology planning.
One Program to Gain Extensive Experience
Variety of Geographies
• Cold Weather
• Desert
• Hot and Humid
• Rainy
Variety of Applications
• Bus Rapid Transit
• Shuttle Service
• Arterial Rapid Transit
• Express Service
• Fixed-Route Service
• Point-to-Point
• Maintenance Depot
Phased Approached from Feasibility to Implementation
• Service Visioning/Pilot Projects
• National & Local Outreach
• Vehicle and Infrastructure Technology
• Industry Forum
• Financial Planning
• Regulations
• Implementation Strategy
Preliminary Development Agreement
1
• Procurement of Buses
• Infrastructure Design
• Technology Testing
• Deployment/Construction
• Evaluation
• Next Steps
Comprehensive Development Agreement
2GO/NO-GO
PDA On-Going Work Tasks
Automated Bus Consortium Program Overview
Committee Structure
How will the Consortium Work?
Consortium Structure
• Developed to drive decision making
• Policy Committee – agency executives make final decisions
• Technical Committees – drive work plan and recommendations
Automated Bus
Consortium
Policy Committee
Planning &
Operations
Committee
Communication &
Outreach
Committee
Specifications &
Procurement
Committee
Deliverable Approval Responsibility
Deliverables
Selection of National Pilot Projects
Approval of Final Risk
Register
Select Agency to Lead
Procurement
PDA Results and Conclusion
Agencies Each Make Go/No-
Go for CDA
Deliverables
Technical Memo: Selection
of Candidate Pilot Projects
Preliminary O&M Plan
Technical Memorandum on
Regulatory requirements
Preliminary Cost Estimates
for Pilot Projects
Financial Plan Memo
Deliverables
Web Site
National Outreach
Industry Forum
Ideas on Local Outreach
Agency’s Will Execute
Local Outreach Strategy
Deliverables
Draft and Final Automated
Bus Specification
Recommend Lead Agency
for Procurement
Preliminary Infrastructure
Plan
Policy CommitteePlanning & Operations
Committee
Communications &
Outreach Committee
Specifications &
Procurement Committee
Automated Bus Consortium Program Overview
Work to Date
Activities
• Agency Kickoff Meetings – April-May, 2019
• Agency Pilot Project Workshops – May-June, 2019
• Specifications and Procurement Committee – June 27th, 2019 (Dallas, TX)
• Battery-electric bus selected
• Planning and Operations Committee – July 16th, 2019 (Minneapolis, MN)
• Agencies selected preferred pilot routes
• Policy Committee Kickoff – August 14th, 2019 (Washington, DC)
• Industry Forum – September 12th, 2019 (Detroit, MI)
Planning and Ops Committee Outcome
Industry Forum
Automated Bus Consortium Program Overview
Risk & Value
Potential Risks
• Insurance
• Labor
• Legislative Meddling
• Safety
• Regulatory approval
• Funding
• Liability
• Driver Certifications / Requirements to Drive AV
• Cyber Attacks
• Cost / Benefit Analysis Proof of Value and Benefit
• Acceptability of Use / Public Buy in
• Infrastructure Costs
• Electric Infrastructure Challenges (with Power Grid)
• Data Sharing from 3rd AV Parties
• Software / Technology Upgrades
• Software Viruses and Glitches and How to Address and Override
• Promotion of AV Bus Safety and Proof of Testing Certifications
• Industry Ability to Deliver Quality Product
Potential Value of the Consortium
Accelerate
Technology
Development and
Deployment
Reduce Planning
and Procurement
Costs
Stimulate
Technology
Demand
Shared Lessons
Learned
Automated Bus Consortium Program Overview
Project Communications & Outreach
Communication and Outreach Program At-a-Glance
Announce the
Automated Bus
Consortium
Press Release Name + LogoNational External
Campaign
Local
Communications
Toolkit
Community
Outreach
Select name
and logo
Web site
Social media
Press release(s)
for milestones
Branded
presentation
Logo files
Social media
graphics
Templates with
logo/branding
Branded
presentation
template
Regional
community
outreach to be
defined by the
local agency
Local agency
implements
program
Publicize
milestones
Automated Bus Consortium Program Overview
Schedule
Automated Bus Consortium Program –Phase 1 Project Schedule: 12 Months
Automated Bus Consortium Program Overview
Thank You