Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Gregory Newmark / Investment, research, and development of autonomous vehicles grows each year. As the years pass, more and more transit agencies are interested in incorporating autonomous vehicles as a public transit service. However, there are still unknowns and uncertainties as to the safety and viability of autonomous vehicles. For transit agencies to incorporate autonomous vehicles in public transit, agencies need to validate the application of autonomous vehicles in real-world scenarios and environments. One option for testing the vehicles is for transit agencies to implement an autonomous shuttle pilot program. A pilot program will give agencies an opportunity to learn if and how autonomous vehicles can enhance or improve transit services. Even though autonomous shuttle pilot programs have been deployed worldwide, there has been little comparative analysis. This report addresses the need for knowledge by providing practical considerations of essential pilot program elements. To assist transit agencies, this report illustrates previously executed autonomous shuttle pilot programs, identifies the core elements of a pilot program, and discusses the relationship between elements. To accomplish these tasks, this report reviews nine European autonomous shuttle pilot programs, literature surrounding the topic, and interviews key personnel associated with the pilot programs. The results of this research help transit agencies make informed decisions about approaching autonomous shuttle pilot programs in public transportation.

Travelling and moving within urban areas in a sustainable way acquires a transition toward sustainable commuting modes. An approach to reaching the transition is recognised as sustainable mobility. According to smart mobility research, autonomous shuttle buses could contribute to achieve sustainable mobility in urban areas. This study therefore aims to evaluate to what extent autonomous shuttle buses are contributing to achieve sustainable mobility in Lindholmen and Barkarbystaden, by analysing the enabling and challenging factors of integrating autonomous shuttle buses from a spatial planning perspective. Based on a thematic analysis, three themes: integration into transport networks, urban policy integration, and spatial planning and urban design integration, emerged from a multiple-case study and an in-depth interview study. It is revealed that the buses are bringing forth a multi-modal transportation network with an extension of sustainable travel opportunities beyond the privately owned car. Nonetheless, it is evident that the autonomous shuttle buses are not eligible to cover the first-last mile accessibility gap in Lindholmen nor Barkarbystaden. Practitioners should therefore consider evaluating what autonomous shuttle buses should be used for, how and where before they decide to go any further with the integration of autonomous shuttle buses in other urban areas.