Autonomous Shuttle Implementation and Best Practices

When, where, and how autonomous shuttles are deployed can have significant safety, economic, and policy impacts on their operation and performance. This research analyzes data related to 120 existing deployments of autonomous shuttles, looking at safety, operational, economic, and policy-related issues. Analysis shows that autonomous shuttles would be an excellent supplement to public transportation. However, improvements to the vehicle and the infrastructure are needed before any permanent deployment. The study also analyzes the perceptions of practitioners, industry experts, and transportation system users toward autonomous shuttles. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Input Multiple Cause Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approaches were adopted to analyze the perception data. The results from the PCA highlighted critical barriers to autonomous shuttle implementation, including underutilization measures, safety concerns, seating arrangements, reliability, data security, operational aspects, sensor technology, and lane use. The results from the SEM revealed that users’ willingness to use autonomous shuttles is influenced by their perceived safety, comfort, trust in autonomous shuttles, familiarity with autonomous shuttles, household income, age, and frequency of transit usage. A set of recommended best practices for deploying autonomous shuttles is proposed based on the insights from multiple case studies and the perceptions of practitioners and industry experts.

• Dataset URL:
  • http://doi.org/10.31979/mti.2023.2321
• Record URL:
  • https://transweb.sjsu.edu/research/2321-Autonomous-Shuttle-Best-Practice-People-Mover
• Summary URL:
  • https://transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/default/files/2321-RB-Pulugurtha-Autonomous-Shuttle-Best-Practice-People-Mover.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/73206
• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/73209
• Dataset URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/73229
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program. Supporting dataset available at: doi.org/10.31979/mti.2023.2321; https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/73229
• Corporate Authors:

  Mineta Transportation Institute

  College of Business
  San José State University
  San Jose, CA  United States  95192-0219

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  California Department of Transportation

  Sacramento, CA  United States  95819
• Authors:
  • Diba, Dil Samina
  • 0000-0003-2603-990X
  • Gore, Ninad
  • 0000-0001-8487-9304
  • Pulugurtha, Srinivas S
  • 0000-0001-7392-7227
• Publication Date: 2023-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 88p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; Best practices; Customer satisfaction; Implementation; Shuttle buses
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01906500
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 23-33, CA-MTI-2321
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747127
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Jan 31 2024 9:11AM