PIDC to Launch Automated Shuttle Service in Philadelphia, PA 2022

PIDC, an economic development corporation, will launch an automated vehicle (AV) shuttle service that serves the SEPTA NRG Station and Navy Yard area of Philadelphia. This pilot, the first-ever AV shuttle deployment in Pennsylvania, will occur across two phases. In Phase 1, passengers can use the AV shuttle to travel between key locations in Navy Yard. Phase 2 will add SEPTA NRG, FDR Park, and the Philadelphia Sports Complex to the deployment area, giving the AV service a first-/last-mile component for transit customers. The deployment area hosts a community of about 15,000 employees and 8 million square feet of mixed-use facilities. Perrone Robotics is the selected vendor that operates the AV technology. As of Phase 1, Perrone Robotics will operate an electric Ford 350HD chassis. An operator will staff the vehicle, which can fit nine passengers plus a wheelchair.

PIDC is funding this pilot with a $347,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission’s Travel Options Program. This pilots’ other key partners include the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, AECOM, and Drexel University. Across both pilot phases, this project can demonstrate a new role for AVs in first-/last-mile and workplace mobility projects.

Last updated March 11, 2022