Metro Magazine, September 2020

12 METRO MAGAZINE COM SEPTEMBER 2020 CTDOT PARTNERS TO TEST AUTONOMOUS BUSES ON BRT SERVICE In addition to testing SAE Level 4 autonomy the project will also test automated docking to improve accessibility and platooning to increase vehicle efficiencies By Alex Roman Managing Editor TECHNOLOGY AUTONOMOUS BUSES THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION CTDOT is planning to introduce the first automated heavy duty buses in revenue service in North America with the project set to go live in approximately a year The project includes the deployment of three battery electric 40 foot New Flyer Xcelsior CHARGE vehicles CTDOT is scheduled to take delivery of the first vehicle in December 2020 The automated buses will operate on the CTfastrak bus rapid transit BRT guideway a 94 mile dedicated BRT route connecting downtown Hartford and downtown New Britain The guideway was built on current and former railroad rights of way owned by the State of Connecticut and Amtrak allowing for the minimal taking of private land From Downtown New Britain Station to Newington Junction the busway follows the former Newington Secondary rail line From the Newington Junction Station to Downtown Hartford the busway operates side by side with the Hartford Line rail service on Amtraks New Haven Springfield Line Another guideway feature is a five mile multi use trail 10 feet wide and separated with a fence for pedestrians and cyclists to access stations and use for recreational purposes Along much of its length the guideway is constructed as a grade separated limited access highway There are five at grade crossings of local roads three in New Britain one in the Elmwood section of West Hartford and one in Hartford Because of the way the infrastructure is set in place on CTfastrak CTDOTs Transit Administrator Dennis Solensky says it is an opportune place to test several technologies including automated buses Because we manage the guideway the signalization and the Photos courtesy CTDOT The automated buses will operate on the CTfastrak bus rapid transit guideway a 94 mile dedicated BRT route connecting downtown Hartford and downtown New Britain