The pilot program would run for three months, starting in mid-November, and would connect to the Vinoy, Dali Museum, Pier and Cross-Bay Ferry.
The three-month, $140,000 pilot program was approved by Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority’s finance committee Wednesday, and the St. Petersburg City Council supported it unanimously Thursday. The county transit authority’s full board will vote next week. If approved, the program would start Nov. 15.
Beep, an autonomous mobility company based in Orlando, would provide two electric, 15-foot shuttles to cruise along the waterfront at a brisk 15 mph. The vehicles are able to carry 10 passengers but would be limited to six at a time as a coronavirus precaution.
A transit employee would be on board to supervise the technology and interact with passengers, but there would be no steering wheel. Instead, the shuttle would navigate on its own using GPS and other sensors. The on-board employee would be able to override the system with an X-Box-like controller.
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