Senior citizens and underserved populations in two Detroit communities can now travel to a local hospital via a paratransit autonomous shuttle.
The Navya Autonom Shuttle features an ADA compliant wheelchair ramp and is designed to improve accessibility for citizens in the Brush Park Manor Senior Center and Brewster Homes communities, according to a news release. Many of these citizens struggle to secure reliable transportation to and from doctor appointments, and the shuttle is expected to fill that need.
The operation is a result of a 2019 PlanetM Mobility Grant awarded to Navya to deploy an automated, accessible paratransit shuttle in Detroit.
The autonomous shuttle began traveling a pre-programmed 1.31-mile route earlier this month. An on-board safety operator oversees the vehicle, educates riders about the technology and helps passengers both on and off the shuttle.
“We have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to leverage our state’s robust mobility ecosystem and resources to ensure future transportation solutions better serve our communities,” said Trevor Pawl, the state of Michigan’s chief mobility officer, according to the release. “Through our state’s highly collaborative environment between our public and private sectors, we’re able to utilize next-generation technologies to create a future that prioritizes safer, more inclusive mobility services for residents that live, work and play in our communities, including access to senior citizens and underserved individuals.”
To protect riders from COVID-19, passengers and operators are required to wear masks and are encouraged to social distance by using designated seating areas on the shuttle. Seats and surfaces are sanitized between each trip. A touchless hand sanitizer dispenser and disinfecting wipes are also available onboard.
The shuttle runs Monday through Friday and will operate through mid-October. Residents use an app to schedule rides in advance or on demand.
The deployment is a partnership between Navya, NextEnergy, Bestmile, Flagstar Bank, IXR Mobility, and AARP, as well as DTE, and Michigan’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification PlanetM.
