1

Automated Vehicle Shuttle University District Connector

Carol Abel Lewis, Ph.D.

Gwendolyn Goodwin, Ph.D.J. Sam Lott, P.E.

Texas Southern University Center for Transportation Training and Research

Texas A & M Transportation Technology Conference

2

ENROLLMENT: 10,200

2nd LARGEST HBCU

CENTRALLY LOCATED

TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

3

TSU AV ShuttlePlanning

Project TeamHouston METROTexas Southern UniversityCity of HoustonHouston-Galveston Area Council

3

4

TSU AV ShuttleProject Overview

Slightly over 1 mile roundtrip Connects campus east west Overlays existing shuttle system H & PE Arena west extent Library and housing on east extent Classroom structures along entire

length

5

Project Overview 10 minute headways – 12 hours per day

3 stationsDay MobilityClassesFaculty & StaffVisitors

Night MobilityClassesFaculty & StaffAthletes BandVisitors

6

TSU AV ShuttlePlanning

Early Planning & Project TeamHouston METROTexas Southern UniversityCity of HoustonHouston-Galveston Area Council

6

7

Counts east campus – 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM(Peak 15 minutes)

PedestriansCyclistsCarts 7

(44) 2126

8

122 (16)(143) 160 0 25 7

Pedestrians

Cyclists

Carts

Counts mid campus – 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM(Peak 15 minutes)

9

(33) 23129

Pedestrians

Cyclists

Carts

Counts west campus – 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM(Peak 15 minutes)

10

First Transit with Easy Mile Vehicle

11

Vehicle Characteristics

12

Physical & Operational Planning

Vehicle Characteristics and Safety Record

Stakeholder and Community Engagement

Assessment Categories

13

Assessment Measures

Physical & Operational Planning Ridership & mode split Boarding/alighting characteristics Running Time Control Center

14

Assessment Measures

Vehicle Characteristics and Safety RecordWeather operability Charging requirementsMaintenance IncidentsStakeholder and Community Engagement Passenger Acceptance Pre and Post Surveys

15

Potential Future

Source: Google Maps

Eastwood Transit Center

Wheeler Intermodal

Station

TSU Early Deployment Ph. 1 and 2 Medium Term Depl. Eastwood Transit Center Long Term Depl. U of H Main Campus and ERC

15

LRT Station Eastwood Transit Center Cuney Homes Housing

16

Potential Future

AV Circulation in Major Districts and Around the Region

HSR Passenger Terminal and Intermodal Hub

Four Urban Employment Districts Other than the University District are large enough to be in the list of the top 15 CBDs in the country.

TT

Source: Google Maps

Downtown

GreenwayPlaza

Uptown

Texas MedicalCenter / NRG

UniversityDistrict

1. 16

17

Long Term Opportunities for AV Deployments

TSU Shuttle Demonstration Pilot Provides Valuable Insight for the Future Application of AV Shuttle as First-Mile/Last-Mile Connector to

High Capacity Transit is Strategic to Houston’s Long Range Plan Multiple Major Urban Districts Clustered in Close Proximity

Within the Urban Core Create Unique Density for Transit Radial HCT Lines Into the Urban Core Should Connect People

with an Urban Core Transitway System

18

TSU Automated Vehicle University District Connector

Carol Abel Lewis, Ph.D.Gwendolyn Goodwin, Ph.D.

J. Sam Lott, P.E.

Texas Southern University Center for Transportation Training and Research

Texas A & M Transportation Technology Conference

19

Discussion

Planning Project Overview Evaluation and Assessment Potential Future Applications