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Driverless buses on the rural roadways of Northern New Mexico?
While fully autonomous, rider-only vehicles are years away, test routes with operators in the driver seats could be just around the corner.
The North Central Regional Transit District, which operates the Blue Bus transportation system, is preparing to launch a study on the feasibility of autonomous vehicle use in public transit, with a goal of determining whether the area is suitable for a pilot program.
It has teamed up with a Washington, D.C.-based not-for-profit organization, the Community Transportation Association of America, for an initiative largely driven by nationwide driver shortages.
Challenges in recruiting and retaining bus drivers "make it difficult to provide service plan goals," which has led to a reduction in service in some areas, said Bryce Gibson, the transit district's planning and projects manager.
The study is an opportunity to "harness a new technology to meet some of these ongoing demands," Gibson said.
The Community Transportation Association's National Center for Applied Transit Technology will conduct the study, which could be completed before the year's end.
Though, Gibson noted the initiative is still in the "exploratory" phase.
Autonomous vehicles use a combination of artificial intelligence software and sensors to navigate and drive. While some studies cite public concerns about the use of such vehicles, others predict they will grow in popularity...