Arizona’s first shared-ride, autonomous shuttle operating on a public street is coming to Peoria. The Peoria’s city council approved the funding for a 60-day autonomous vehicle pilot program with Beep, a Florida-based autonomous mobility solutions company.

“This transportation pilot is a unique experiment for our community,” Mayor Cathy Carlat said in a statement. “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.”

The fully electric, driverless shuttle is set to launch Feb. 22, and will operate daily from noon to 6 p.m. in the P83 Entertainment District on Arrowhead Fountain Center Drive from Huntington University to Paradise Lane. 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 has an attendant onboard at all times to ensure riders have a pleasant and 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 this 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 the city of Peoria.

This pilot program is an opportunity for the city of Peoria to learn what transportation solutions are the best fit for the community alongside current transportation options.