Utahns will soon have the ability to take a test ride in the state’s first fully autonomous vehicle as part of a pilot program featuring an automated street shuttle. Brought to the state by the Department of Utah Transportation in partnership with the Utah Transit Authority, the shuttle had its first public test run on Thursday.
The vehicle is now legally able to operate on Utah roads after state lawmakers passed a bill allowing testing of the shuttle to move from testing tracks and sidewalks to state roads.
“We want the public to experience it and start to see how this could fit into the future of our transportation system,” Carlos Braceras, UDOT executive director, told members of the media prior to the demonstration.