City of Orlando launches autonomous shuttle pilot with Beep and LYNX
ORLANDO, Fla. August 16, 2023. The City of Orlando announced the start of a six-month autonomous shuttle pilot program in partnership with Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (LYNX) and Beep Inc., an Orlando-based provider of autonomous shared mobility solutions. The SWAN (Shuttling with Autonomous Navigation) shuttle, an autonomous bus, offers city data to shape transport strategy using shared, electric, autonomous vehicles for accessibility and sustainability. Moreover, it contributes insights to enhance residents’ lives, guiding a future-ready, sustainable city through LYNX data and learnings.
“The City of Orlando holds the belief that thriving communities require connectivity. Therefore, we are looking at new ways to embrace creative, innovative ways to do this,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “With the expansion of autonomous vehicle shuttles into our neighborhoods, we can converge cutting-edge technology with new mobility solutions to further redefine the way our community moves. Moreover, the SWAN Shuttle expands our mobility choices, strengthening dedication to residents, environment, and future through an inclusive network.”
Starting August 20, 2023, the fare-free SWAN Shuttle pilot in Creative Village offers access seven days a week to all. Spanning the roughly one-mile route, it will have five stops connecting LYNX Central Station and SunRail to UCF/Valencia Downtown, Luminary Green Park, Electronic Arts (EA), as well as Parramore and serving Creative Village residents and businesses. The shuttles will operate in the existing bus lane dedicated to the LYMMO Orange Line in the early afternoon and evening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They will also operate from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
“We move thousands of customers each and every day,” said LYNX CEO Tiffany Homler Hawkins. “This partnership is an innovative way to test technology and understand how it will benefit our riders in a real-time setting. We believe that this will benefit the community for years to come.”
Orlando’s Beep boasts vast expertise, deploying and testing safe self-driving shuttles across communities spanning Florida to California. Lake Nona in Orlando hosts the nation’s largest, long-standing self-driving shuttle system—a testament to its innovative, planned community. Beep’s Lake Nona command center oversees the SWAN Shuttle pilot in Creative Village and nationwide project sites in the US.
“Proudly belonging to an innovative community, we’re committed to tech investment for enhancing residents’ quality of life. We are also focused on enhancing the livability of our city,” said Beep CEO Joe Moye. “Our partnership with the City of Orlando and LYNX ensures the necessary collaboration for testing autonomous vehicles safely. So that we can incorporate community feedback and prepare for the coming era of autonomous electric transportation. Which will improve road safety, decrease carbon emissions and extend mobility to everyone.”
To learn more about the SWAN Shuttle pilot, visit www.orlando.gov/swanshuttle or www.golynx.com/swanshuttle.
