Self-Driving Shuttles Will Transport Travelers Around JFK Airport This Summer
Back in October 2022 Port Authority announced possibly introducing self-driving shuttles to JFK airport, and now, nearly two years later, they’re rolling out this summer!
According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, two self-driving shuttles are set to begin transporting travelers dropping off or picking up their cars at JFK’s long-term (and massive) Parking Lot 9. The rides will begin as early as next week.
The shuttles, which are owned by New Zealand-based company Ohmio, can each carry eight passengers and, even better, the rides are totally free. And though the shuttles are totally self-driving, safety attendants will be on board greeting and assisting riders.
The shuttles are part of a pilot program testing the technology. Previously, they were tested sans riders in empty parking lots at New Jersey’s Newark Airport.
Shaped like “giant lima beans with wheels,” the shuttles will drive around the parking lot one at a time, though more will eventually be put into service to create “platoons.”
They’ll be in service through this summer (taking the place of one conventional bus that currently circles the massive lot), promising increased service levels
Seth Wainer, program director for innovation at the Port Authority, stated:
We foresee a situation where vehicles can safely convey passengers all over the airport footprint, and our hope here is that instead of having just one driver stuck in one vehicle, we can have one driver supervising more than one vehicle and really paying attention to the folks actually getting on and getting off.
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