Longest AV Shuttle Route in North America launched

A Canadian town is on course to launch the country’s longest autonomous shuttle route, as part of efforts to introduce self-driving vehicles into public transport system.

Whitby, a town close to Toronto, has commissioned a 6-kilometer (roughly 3.7 miles) AV shuttle route along its waterfront, making the route the longest in North America.

The pilot project has been named Whitby Autonomous Vehicle Electric (WAVE). It has now entered the testing phase, and is scheduled to start conducting commercial rides before yearend.

The operation of these shuttles will be conducted within the Durham Regional Transit (DRT) system, marking a significant turnaround and a giant stride in the agency’s transition to electric vehicles.

“The WAVE shuttle and smart infrastructure pilot builds on these advancements, providing the opportunity to assess the operational, environmental and customer service benefits of autonomous electric shuttles in public transit,” remarked Jamie Austin, DRT’s Deputy General Manager for Business Services.