This report explains the findings from “Feasibility and Demonstration of Small Automated Vehicles as a Viable Transit Solution in NC,” the first phase of multi-year project developing the EcoPRT system. This system uses two-person, driverless vehicles as part of an autonomous mictrotransit system. The vehicles can bring passengers door to door for short distances at low speeds along shared-use pathways. During this phase, the first two EcoPRT vehicles were built and tested and construction was begun on an additional three. The campus of North Carolina State University was examined to see how best to design routes to increase students’ accessibility to desired locations. Potential users (students, staff, and faculty) were given intercept surveys and participated in focus groups; these instruments found a positive reaction to the EcoPRT concept, although concerns remained on safety and, particularly, reliability. Finally, a benefit-cost analysis was performed, which found that the direct benefits would be greater than the direct costs, particularly if the increased mobility brought on by EcoPRT allows the university to avoid building a parking garage on center campus and instead enables travelers to use surface lots on Centennial Campus.
