The city of Whitby, Ontario has launched a 6-kilometre autonomous shuttle route along its waterfront. The project called Whitby Autonomous Vehicle Electric (WAVE) entered its testing phase this week.
The first passengers will ride the WAVE later in 2021.
The free shuttle will operate within the Durham Regional Transit system and is part of a broader project to electrify and integrate smart city systems within the region.
The shuttles route starts at the GO Transit station and runs through recreational, industrial and residential areas around the Port of Whitby before arriving back at the GO terminal.
The shuttle will operate from 08:30- 15:30 on weekdays and from 07:00-19:00 on weekends when it opens. As part of the trial, the shuttle will have a human operator onboard if intervention is necessary.
The shuttle is a partnership between Whitby, SmartCone, Metrolinx, Nokia Canada and AutoGuardian by SmartCone. The project also received investment from the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network, which the Ontario Government controls.
