The city of Riverside has launched a self-driving, electric shuttle bus, making it the first city in the United States to offer such a service through a public transit agency. The Riverside Transit Agency (RTA) introduced the Ohmio shuttle buses on Monday, marking a significant step toward the city’s goal of becoming a hub for vehicle manufacturing, akin to Detroit.
The electric shuttles, which operate on pre-designated routes at a maximum speed of 25 mph, are part of a two-year pilot program approved by the Riverside City Council. The program is a collaboration between the city, the RTA, the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and Ohmio, which has relocated its headquarters from New Zealand to Riverside. The move is expected to boost local employment and generate substantial sales tax revenue for the city.
Riverside Mayor Lock Dawson expressed ambition for the city to become a leader in vehicle manufacturing for the 21st century. “Riverside is it, we are going to do this for the 21st century,” she said.
The shuttles are designed to operate on low-speed roads, with initial routes including the Riverside Municipal Airport, downtown Riverside, and the University of California, Riverside. The buses are equipped with sensors to detect their surroundings and can be manually overridden by a human attendant if necessary. The deployment of these shuttles is expected to improve air quality by reducing the number of cars on the road.
Ohmio plans to produce between 500 and 750 buses over the next five years, generating over $2 million in sales tax for Riverside. The project is also expected to create 25 local jobs within three years. The city and its partners have invested $2.5 million in the initiative, with the expectation that the investment will be recouped through sales tax revenue.
The introduction of the self-driving shuttles is part of Riverside’s broader strategy to develop its clean tech and advanced manufacturing sectors. As the program progresses, officials hope to expand the service to more routes and increase the speed of the shuttles.
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