Armidale Regional Council has committed $100,000 to a three-phase trial of a driverless shuttle service, the first of its kind in regional NSW, which will begin at the University of New England at the end of the year.
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Council voted unanimously in March to submit expressions of interest to partner with NSW government to bring the 14-seat driverless shuttle out of the city, where it is currently undergoing trials at Sydney's Olympic Park, and into the country.
Council's group lead for organisational services, Lindsay Woodland, said Wednesday that council's submission to win one of two vehicles in the first regional trial was based on "solving real problems" for public transport around town. The second trial vehicle will go to Coffs Harbour.
The exact cost of the project, which could run into the millions over the extent of the trial, is commercial-in-confidence in council papers but Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has said Transport NSW will most of the financial demand.
Council's outlay of $100,000 will go toward a slated five-year lease to own shuttle, estimated to cost around $360,000. Mr Marshall said Monday that Transport NSW will transfer ownership of the vehicle to ARC at the end of the project.
The shuttle is expected to spend around four months at UNE, where Mr Woodland said it would "augment" existing Edwards bus services. On any given weekday morning, around 800 cars move between the university's residential and academic sectors. Professor Peter Creamer said Tuesday that an automated shuttle service had clear potential to help alleviate traffic and parking congestion on campus.
"The University is looking forward to assessing whether automated transport has a role on campus," he said.
"Part of our brief as a regional university is to be a conduit for new ideas and technologies into regional communities. Driverless vehicles seem likely to be the norm in the near future, and UNE hopes that it can use its campus and expertise to ensure that, if viable, the technology becomes a safe, effective option for regional transportation."
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Students and staff will test and deliver real-time data on the shuttle's performance before phases two and three introduce a potential loop service in the Armidale CBD.
The shuttle uses light detection and ranging technology (LIDAR) to identify obstacles within 40 metres from the vehicle in all directions. Mr Woodland said the shuttle's navigation technology could keep the vehicle on course to within a centimetre.
The shuttle can reach top speeds of around 40 kilometres per hour but will be restricted to between 20 and 25 kilometres per hour during the trial.
Mr Woodland said the optional second-year test run could introduce another automated vehicle and potentially connect the university to the city centre.
He added that potential routes had not yet been firmed up, but that council has considered an option to upgrade a cycleway near the university to provide a dedicated road for both the shuttle and cyclists.
"We may utilise the cycle track, but there is a fair bit of work to do before we make that decision," Mr Woodland said.
The state government has partnered with six stakeholders, including Edwards Coaches, to deliver the trial which Mr Marshall said would be conducted to strict safety standards.
A shuttle supervisor will be onboard the vehicles at all times and will be able to manually take control.
Mayor Simon Murray said these were "very exciting times" for Armidale after NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey made the announcement in Coffs Harbour on Monday.