Peoria, Ariz.’s city council approved the funding for a 60-day NAVYA autonomous vehicle pilot program with Beep, a Florida-based autonomous mobility solutions company.

 “We see this as an important step as we seek to understand some of the innovative solutions that exist around the world, and how they bring value to Peoria residents,” said Mayor Cathy Carlat.

The fully electric, driverless shuttle is set to launch Feb. 22, and will operate daily from noon to 6 p.m. in the region’s P83 Entertainment District. The shuttle, which has no steering wheel or pedals, will use a pre-programmed, fixed-route with a combination of localization techniques, involving high-powered censors and cameras. It is open to the public without an appointment, fee, or pre-screening.

Additionally, the shuttle is ADA accessible and always has an attendant onboard  to ensure riders have a safe experience. The Beep Command Center can also communicate with the onboard shuttle attendant at any time. The shuttle holds up to 10 passengers at a time and will operate at a maximum speed of 15 mph as part of the pilot program.

The objective of the pilot program is to understand the feasibility of using autonomous vehicles for the first and last mile. The pilot program will also capture ridership adoption behaviors and patterns in Peoria, as well as provide an opportunity for the city of Peoria to learn what transportation solutions are the best fit for the community alongside current transportation options.

Currently, NAVYA operates in 20 countries. Most recently, Beep partnered with NAVYA to deploy the first autonomous shuttles in Lake Nona, Fla.