Abstract
Numerous demonstrations and deployments of automated shuttles and buses are occurring in downtown areas, university campuses, business and medical parks, and entertainment complexes throughout the United States. This research project focused on ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal and safe access to automated shuttles and buses to improve their mobility. The project introduced individuals with disabilities to an automated shuttle in Arlington, TX and a Smart Intersection in College Station, TX, assessing their safety perceptions and obtaining information on any safety concerns about their complete trip. The project identified enhancements in planning, vehicles, service and operations, and the street system and built environment to ensure that individuals with disabilities can safely access and use automated shuttles.
The research included interviewing individuals with disabilities before and after riding in the Arlington automated shuttles and online interviews of the Texas A&M University students using mobility devices obtaining feedback on the Smart Intersection and automated shuttles. Virtual and in-person workshops were held examining possible automated shuttle routes on the Texas A&M University–San Antonio campus and the adjacent VIDA development, and the Texas A&M University System RELLIS campus in Bryan. Guidelines for enhancing automated shuttles for individuals with mobility and visual impairments were developed.
Project Highlights
- The project introduced individuals with mobility and visual impairments to automated shuttles in Arlington, Texas, and conducted online interviews with individuals in College Station, Texas, using mobility devices to gain feedback on the Smart Intersection concept and automated shuttles.
- A workshop exploring possible automated shuttles routes on the Texas A&M University System RELLIS Campus and an online discussion of possible routes linking the Texas A&M University–San Antonio campus and the adjacent VIDA development were conducted.
- Guidelines for enhancing the use of automated shuttles by individuals with mobility and visual impairments were developed.
Final Report
EWD & T2 Products
Course Module: a lecture PowerPoint with speaker notes and a group exercise on automated shuttles and buses for PLAN670 Urban Public Transportation.
A student received funding under this project (Ahmadreza Mahmoudzadeh, a PhD student in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M).
Roundtable Forum, Texas Department of Transportation Research Project, Automated and Connected Vehicle Test Bed to Improve Transit, Bicycle, and Pedestrian Safety, June 22, 2021, College Station, TX
Presentations/Publications
Turnbull, K., (2023, March 28). Automated Shuttles and Buses For All Users. Webinar SafeD Virtual Webinar is available here. PDF of PowerPoint slides from Webinar available here.
2021 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Automated Road Transport Symposium, July 12-15, 2021, Virtual. Video Available Here. Presentation slides available here.
Turnbull, K.F. (2023). Enhancing Mobility with Automated Shuttles and Buses. In: Meyer, G., Beiker, S. (eds) Road Vehicle Automation 10. ARTSymposium 2022. Lecture Notes in Mobility. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34757-3_7
Turnbull, K.F. (2023). Automated Shuttles and Buses for All Users. In: Meyer, G., Beiker, S. (eds) Road Vehicle Automation 9. ARTSymposium 2021. Lecture Notes in Mobility. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11112-9_9
Turnbull, K., Jones, C., Elefteriadou, L. (2022). Autonomous Shuttles and Buses: From Demonstrations to Deployment. In: Meyer, G., Beiker, S. (eds) Road Vehicle Automation 8. AVS 2020 2020. Lecture Notes in Mobility. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80063-5_7
Turnbull, K., Jones, C., Elefteriadou, L. (2020). Catching up with Low-Speed Autonomous Shuttles. In: Meyer, G., Beiker, S. (eds) Road Vehicle Automation 7. AVS 2019. Lecture Notes in Mobility. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52840-9_6
Research Investigators (PI*)
Katherine Turnbull (TTI/TAMU)*
Brittney Gick (TTI/TAMU)
Laura Higgins (TTI/TAMU)
Project Information
Start Date: 2020-01-10
End Date: 2022-05-31
Status: Complete
Grant Number: 69A3551747115
Total Funding: $300,000
Source Organization: Safe-D National UTC
Project Number: 05-093
Safe-D Theme Areas
Automated Vehicles
Connected Vehicles
Safe-D Application Areas
Risk Assessment
Planning for Safety
Performance Measures
Sponsor Organization
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC 20590 United States
Performing Organization
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M Transportation Institute
3135 TAMU
College Station, Texas 77843-3135
USA