Fairfax County, Dominion Energy partner on driverless shuttle project

Fairfax County, Va. is partnering with Dominion Energy to develop an autonomous electric shuttle.

The pilot project will be funded in part by a $250,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). Fairfax County will provide a $50,000 local match toward the project.

It would be one of the first tests of driverless technology in public transportation in the state.

The goal of the pilot project is for Fairfax County and Dominion Energy to learn about the ins and outs of deploying autonomous vehicles in a public transportation system. They’ll be looking at the economic and environmental benefits, as well as the operational efficiencies. Also, autonomous and electric vehicle technology would help lower-emissions.

As part of the proposed partnership, Dominion Energy would lease or buy the vehicle for and Fairfax County would oversee the operations. The shuttles will undergo extensive testing before passenger service can begin. The project is subject to safety reviews by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Fairfax County encourages innovation and testing of smart technologies to help expand existing business sectors, spark growth, promote innovation, and strengthen partnerships with technology experts, researchers, educational institutions and policymakers.