METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

First Transit to pilot shared AV service with Houston Metro, TSU

Transit agency is launching a circulator on a one-mile pedestrian walking loop on the campus of Texas Southern University.

June 20, 2019
First Transit to pilot shared AV service with Houston Metro, TSU

Houston Metro is launching a circulator on a one-mile pedestrian walking loop on the campus of Texas Southern University.

First Transit

1 min to read


Houston Metro is launching a circulator on a one-mile pedestrian walking loop on the campus of Texas Southern University. First Transit

First Transit announces a shared autonomous vehicle (SAV) pilot with Houston METRO and Texas Southern University (TSU). This is the eighth SAV initiative for First Transit and the first-of-its-kind in the region, according to the company.

Houston Metro is introducing the University District Circulator on the campus of TSU. An EasyMile SAV shuttle will travel on the Tiger Walk, a one-mile pedestrian walking loop, providing connection to multiple points and buildings on campus for students and faculty.

Ad Loading...

EasyMile has deployed 230 driverless projects with more than 380,000 people transported over 370,000 miles.

The SAV passenger shuttle can carry up to 12 passengers and is designed to travel using a pre-programmed route, equipped with a sensor and intelligent vehicle system to detect obstacles and avoid collisions.

First Transit is providing onboard customer service agents for the SAV passenger shuttles, system and project management, and maintenance operations.

The University District Circulator pilot will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. and is open to university students, staff and visitors. Everyone is required to sign a consent form before riding.


More New Mobility

New Mobilityby StaffJanuary 30, 2026

Chicago's Pace Expands VanGo Mobility Program

The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.

Read More →
BusJanuary 22, 2026

Biz Briefs: BART, Uber Launch Partnership and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
SponsoredJanuary 19, 2026

3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers

Transit agencies depend on safe, reliable vehicles to deliver consistent service. This eBook examines how next-generation fleet software helps agencies move from reactive processes to proactive operations through automated maintenance, real-time safety insights, and integrated data. Learn how fleets are improving uptime, safety outcomes, and operational efficiency.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Transit signal priority and public transit agencies.
New Mobilityby Alex RomanJanuary 16, 2026

How AI is Redefining Transit Operations and Signal Priority

In a recent episode of METROspectives, LYT CEO Timothy Menard discusses how artificial intelligence, cloud connectivity, and real-time data are transforming traffic management, boosting bus reliability, and enabling system-wide transit optimization across cities.

Read More →
New Mobilityby StaffJanuary 15, 2026

U.S. Transit Trails Global Peers, Transportation for America Report Outlines Path Forward

The analysis finds that a $4.6 trillion investment across all levels of government over 20 years ($230 billion per year) would be required to build, operate, and maintain a transit network that approaches the level of service within a cohort of 17 global cities with world-class transit systems.

Read More →
RailJanuary 15, 2026

Biz Briefs: Alstom Supplying TTC Subways, SilverRide Lands California Contracts, and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Railby Staff and News ReportsJanuary 9, 2026

Biz Briefs: Hitachi Rail, GreenPower, and More

Stay informed with these quick takes on the projects and companies driving progress across the transportation landscape.

Read More →
An image of a woman exiting a Via microtransit fane with text reading "How to Scale Microtransit Through Data."
New Mobilityby Elora HaynesJanuary 8, 2026

Microtransit’s Next Chapter: Data, Equity, and Job Access at Scale

Via data shows microtransit boosts job access, equity, and commutes when designed to feed fixed routes, not compete with them.

Read More →
New Mobilityby Alex RomanJanuary 5, 2026

Forest River Working to Redefine Reliability, Responsibility in the Bus Industry

As the transportation landscape continues to evolve in the wake of the pandemic, few manufacturers have faced, or embraced, change as decisively as Forest River Bus.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Technologyby Staff and News ReportsDecember 24, 2025

Biz Briefs: Electric Paratransit Buses in San Francisco and More

Biz Briefs covers the latest supplier news in the motorcoach and public transit industries.

Read More →