Retirement Community Launches Autonomous Microtransit Service, Sun City, AZ, 2023

Sun City, an unincorporated community in Maricopa County, Arizona, is piloting an autonomous microtransit service. Operated through May Mobility and Via, customers can request shared point-to-point rides to and from eleven stops across Sun City. These stops include recreation centers, retirement communities, medical centers, and grocery and shopping centers. Customers can book their rides in real-time using the May Mobility smartphone app or by calling a phone line. This microtransit service has a fleet of two Toyota Sienna hybrid vans. One of the vans is wheelchair accessible. The fare-free service operates from 7 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.

This service is designed to expand mobility choices for residents in an aging population. Sun City is a retirement community near Phoenix with a median age of over 70. This service allows Sun City residents, Via, and May Mobility to test how autonomous microtransit operates in a warmer desert environment.

Last updated May 17, 2023