Decarbonisation experts at City Science have been awarded UK government funding as part of the CCAV’s Connected and Automated Mobility program to investigate an autonomous mass transit system that would run on dedicated lanes, in Hertfordshire.
The project, Dedicated Driverless Spaces for Integrated Mass Transit, will be part of the Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (HERT) initiative, which aims to create a sustainable passenger transport network, running from Hemel Hempstead/West Watford to Harlow in Essex and onwards to Stansted Airport, addressing critical congestion and supporting delivery of 100,000 new homes and jobs.
The award-winning Dedicated Driverless Spaces approach, which overcomes major challenges such as safety, regulations, liability, communications infrastructure and cyber risks, is touted as the most practical option to accelerate the roll-out of AV (automated vehicle) technology in the UK. The project, based on award-winning research conducted by City Science for the National Infrastructure Commission, will aim to position the UK at the forefront of CAV (connected and autonomous vehicle) deployment.
“By investing in autonomous or automated technologies for mass transit, we are able to create a safer and more efficient transport system, leading to a more sustainable future,” says Gavin Jackman, growth director at City Science. “Removing cars from the road can save the equivalent of up to 3.3 tonnes of CO2 per year, which is why we must continue to investigate the practical use of these technologies and encourage people to switch to public transport. Through this project, we aim to develop a repeatable assessment methodology that can be applied to other routes and schemes and accelerate the widespread deployment of AV technology in the mass transit space. Once adopted at scale, it should deliver considerable benefits for both safety and carbon reduction.”
The nine-month project is expected to deliver a final showcase report before the end of November and is supported by the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), Innovate UK and its project collaborators, StreetDrone, Hertfordshire County Council and England’s Economic Heartland.
