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Waymo is preparing to launch a pilot program to explore how autonomous cars can be used combined with public transit, the autonomous car unit Google announced Tuesday. Beginning in August, employees of Valley Metro, the agency that operates the bus and light rail systems of the Phoenix area, will be able to get to their bus or light rail stop on closer.
to the general public, offering first and last mile service to guests who want to use public transit but who are not close enough to walk to the nearest stop.
Two visions of transit in a driverless future
The question of the rise of autonomous cars is whether technology will complement or replace conventional transit. In May, we spoke with Thomas Bamonte, an official with the Central Texas Council of Governments. The council has been involved in autonomous transportation projects in Texas, including the first Drive.ai shuttle service in the Dallas suburb, Frisco.
As a transit official working on autonomous car projects, Bamonte has thought a lot about how to integrate public transport and autonomous cars. And he told me that there are two basic models for transit in a future self-driver. One possibility would be for conventional bus lines to be gradually replaced by autonomous shared van fleets that use flexible routes, thus rendering obsolete conventional buses – and perhaps even conventional metros, commuter rail lines and trams –
the other possibility, "said Bamonte," is a model of "first mile, last mile". In this model, autonomous cars could complement public transit by helping more people get to conventional transit stops. If you are a commuter who works downtown, but lives within a mile or more of the nearest bus stop or subway, taking public transit may not be a very attractive option. Theoretically, you can take a conventional taxi to the nearest public transit stop, but taxis are now far too slow and expensive for this to be convenient.
Autonomous cars could change the economic calculation. Without a driver to pay, a self-driving cab ride could be a lot cheaper than a conventional taxi. And without a driver, an autonomous car might be more willing to show up a few minutes early, ready to leave as soon as the customer is. As a result, autonomous cars could actually increase the use of public transit.
The latest Waymo announcement is a sign that the company is interested in this last-mile approach. The announcement is an attractive early app for Waymo because Waymo's technology requires the company to build detailed maps of the areas where its service will work. Providing a last-mile transit service allows Waymo to expand its service map in a controlled manner, adding support for other transit stops by collecting more data mapping.
Ultimately, this type of service is the standard part of public transit services, with customers purchasing a single multimode ticket that covers both short taxi trips to either or both trip and the bus or train ride between the two. Autonomous taxis could have real-time data on transit times and inform passengers when they have to leave to catch the next train or bus. By first providing a service to Valley Metro employees, Waymo hopes to build relationships that could lead to this kind of collaboration.
The announcement is also the latest sign that Waymo is seriously considering practical cases of using its technology. Last week, the company announced another pilot program to transport customers to their nearest Walmart store. Initially, this pilot program will be limited to the same group of about 400 "early drivers" who have had access to Waymo's fleet for months. But it will likely be available to the general public once Waymo launches his commercial service – something that Waymo says it's going to happen before the end of the year.
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