Suffolk County Council has received over £70,000 to fund a study of driverless shuttle services.
The ADASTRA Feasibility Study seeks to investigate how self-driving shuttle vehicles can be implemented into the transport system, backed by £75,000 of Government funding awarded through the Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) Pathfinder Feasibility Studies Competition.
The funding announcement follows the launch of a public consultation on driverless taxi trials last week, which the Department of Transport has said could be implemented by councils from next spring.
At present, the shuttle seats a maximum of eight people and a safety driver, but can carry 15 people altogether.
As part of the study, the council will be ‘testing public perception’ around the scheme’s operational and safety standards, working alongside designers from Smart City Consultancy to achieve its goals.
Whilst the study does not involve remote operator trials, the council has confirmed the results will be used to ‘inform future planning for staff-free, remotely supervised vehicles’.
Cllr Chris Chambers, Cabinet Member for Transport Strategy, Planning and Waste, said: ‘We are committed to delivering a range of transport options to meet the changing needs of the county.
‘The use of self-driving, environmentally friendly shuttles operating alongside traditional services as part of a Mobility Hub network is a key component of that strategy.’
