Latest news with #shuttle
CBS News
02-08-2025
- CBS News
New shuttle pilot program aims to curb decades of illegal parking at Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay
For decades, visitors to one of Lake Tahoe's most iconic destinations have dealt with chaotic parking and traffic backups. But now, a new shuttle pilot program is being put to the test and local officials hope it will finally ease the gridlock. The Emerald Bay Transit Pilot Program, launched in mid-July, offers daily shuttle service between Camp Richardson and Eagle Falls Trailhead, with stops at Sugar Pine Point Campground. An additional shuttle from the South Lake Tahoe "Y" Transit Center operates on weekends to help manage peak demand. For visitors like Tracy Kleinstuber, who traveled from San Diego, the new system is already making a difference. "It really is convenient, it's less hassle. We didn't have to move our van or worry about parking," Kleinstuber said. Parking has long been a problem at Emerald Bay, where narrow roads and a lack of designated spaces have led to visitors creating their own. That practice, what authorities now consider illegal parking, includes any vehicles parked along the shoulder in restricted zones, particularly areas marked with signage, cones or barriers. California Highway Patrol Officer Ruth Loehr said it only takes one car to create a chain reaction. "If you see the no parking sign, don't park there. If you do, someone else is going to do it right behind you, and it's just going to continue. It's not good for anybody," she said. To address the issue, crews removed 50 makeshift roadside spots and installed new signs, barriers, and patrols from Inspiration Point to D.L. Bliss State Park. Enforcement is in full swing, especially on weekends. In the first two weeks of the program, South Lake Tahoe CHP issued three tickets, 67 parking citations and towed 11 vehicles. While fines start at $100, towing fees can climb over $600. "The fine amount is not significant, which is part of the problem," Laine said. "It doesn't add up to a lot of money, but I think if revenue is generated, it should go back to the project in future years." The shuttle program is funded through a mix of donations and fare revenue. The Tahoe Fund and Keep Tahoe Blue each contributed $150,000 toward the $405,000 total operating cost. The rest is expected to be covered through ticket sales, $10 round trip for adults, $5 for kids under 13. Mike Wallace, visiting from Houston, said he tried to find parking but gave up until he discovered the shuttle. "We didn't find anything, so we went back to Camp Richardson. She found it online, we booked it, and got on the shuttle," Wallace said. Backers of the program hope it will do more than ease congestion. They believe it can protect the environment and make Tahoe safer for everyone. "I really hope this program takes off," Kleinstuber added. "It's a win-win for the community and for the people taking the shuttle." The pilot program runs through Oct. 15, a crucial test to see whether decades of unsafe and illegal parking can finally be stalled.
Geek Wire
25-07-2025
- Geek Wire
Self-driving shuttle being tested at Seattle airport for trek between terminal and light rail station
A driverless shuttle, pictured here with a quality assurance engineer onboard, makes the run on the walkway between the Sound Transit light rail station and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport as part of a 90-day test pilot. (SEA Photo) Travelers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) looking for some relief from the walk between the Link light rail station and the airport terminal could soon hop on a driverless shuttle. The airport is currently testing a 90-day pilot program — the first of its kind at a major airport, according to a Port of Seattle spokesperson. A low-speed, electric-golf-cart-style vehicle is used to carry passengers and their baggage. Made by a company called Carteav, the vehicles are widely used at resorts and theme parks around the nation. They rely on navigation technology, sensors and computer vision and are intended to work safely in areas with pedestrians. During the pilot, the carts are occupied by a quality assurance engineer at all times. The program is running in conjunction with a current driver-provided cart between the light rail and the terminal. According to SEA, the distance between the airport and the light rail station is 950 feet. That's equivalent to a New York City block, 379 steps on a pedometer, or hole No. 6 at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon, the airport says. But that walk has been a sore spot for travelers who have expressed 'a strong desire for more service between these two locations to help with mobility and accessibility, predictability, and ease,' according to SEA. A blog post on the airport website further explains why there's no moving walkway, why the station wasn't built closer to the airport, and more. A new ground transportation center is included in the Port's Sustainable Airport Master Plan and would feature an indoor moving walkway — as seen at 2:45 in this video. The autonomous carts are scheduled to run Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. SEA will be gathering feedback from travelers on-site with surveys for pedestrians in the area as well as those who use the vehicle in testing. Self-driving, electric wheelchairs are already in use at the airport for mobility challenged travelers.
CBC
22-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
School bus enlisted temporarily to help move Sydney cruise ship passengers
A school bus could soon be shuttling passengers between cruise ship piers in Sydney, N.S., but just on a temporary basis. Nicole MacAulay, manager of cruise for the Port of Sydney Development Corporation, said the port used to provide a free shuttle service for passengers arriving at the second berth to get them to the main terminal where they can access shops and bus tours to attractions around Cape Breton. But that became impossible this spring after the port's bus unexpectedly suffered a serious mechanical problem. "We had reached out to the school board to cover off our dates for July and August," MacAulay said. "They're going through that process to help us out as we work for a longer-term plan for September and October." The Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion terminal is several hundred metres away from the second berth. The Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education has applied to the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board for permission to temporarily operate a bus between the sites. MacAulay said she hopes that will be approved soon. The next time more than one cruise ship will be in Sydney harbour is Aug. 4. She said buying a new bus is expensive, and last week, when two cruise ships were in, the port had to hire a taxi company's vehicle and van for two days. That meant shuttling passengers took longer than it normally would, but the weather was good, so many passengers opted to walk. That's not always an option for those who have mobility issues, MacAulay said. 'Reviewing all options' She said commercial bus operators on the island are all busy and it's not clear what will happen in the fall when schools reopen. "At this point, we're reviewing all options and doing our homework and talking to some partners to see what makes the most sense for transportation between the two piers," MacAulay said. In an email, a spokesperson for the centre for education said if it receives approval, the port would be paying for the bus and driver, so the centre would not bear the cost or make a profit.
Malay Mail
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
Grab rolls out self-driving shuttle for staff in six-month Singapore pilot on July 9
SINGAPORE, July 8 — Ride-hailing giant Grab is launching a six-month trial of a driverless shuttle service for its employees, starting July 9. According to The Straits Times, the 22-seater autonomous electric minibus will run on a 3.9km fixed loop between Grab's office at Media Circle and the one-north MRT station during off-peak hours on weekdays. Although the bus is fully self-driving, a safety operator will remain behind the wheel to take control if necessary, in line with Land Transport Authority (LTA) regulations. The LTA, which oversees autonomous vehicle (AV) trials, requires all such vehicles to have a safety operator and display a blinking yellow beacon and a trial sticker when in autonomous mode. Developed by Korean tech firm Autonomous A2Z, the vehicle is a regular electric minibus retrofitted with sensors and software to enable autonomous driving, The Straits Times reported. It is equipped with 11 sensors — including radars and cameras — and has undergone over 100 hours of training along the designated route. The training covered road infrastructure, lane markings, pedestrian detection, and responding to traffic lights. During a 15-minute demonstration today, the shuttle completed the journey without human intervention. It navigated traffic, changed lanes to avoid obstacles like illegally parked vehicles, and stopped at every zebra crossing along the route — even when no pedestrians were present — as required by the LTA. Grab's group managing director of operations, Yee Wee Tang, said the trial could offer insights into how AVs might serve short-distance trips more effectively. 'It could potentially be of value to passengers whose destinations are too far for walking but too near to use a ride-hail service,' he reportedly said at the media preview. When not in service, the shuttle will be used for training and technology development. Currently, five safety operators are undergoing training, with plans to expand to 10 by the end of 2025. The pilot follows Grab's March partnership with four autonomous tech companies to assess how AVs can support urban transport in South-east Asia. The launch also comes amid a wider government push to integrate autonomous vehicles into Singapore's public transport network. In June, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the Singapore government was exploring the use of AVs to enhance public mobility. A larger-scale trial involving self-driving public shuttles is slated to begin in Punggol in the fourth quarter of 2025. Autonomous A2Z is the only firm with LTA approval to conduct AV trials in 2025 so far, joining earlier test participants Chinese firms WeRide and Zelos, and local company Moovita. According to the LTA, 17 autonomous vehicles are currently authorised for public road trials as of end-June. These include AVs designed for logistics, passenger transport, and road maintenance. Since 2017, more than 60 AVs have been approved for on-road trials, with about a third still active.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fast Park & Relax Unveils New Branding, ‘Herd' of Airport Shuttles, Paying Tribute to the Texas Longhorns that Call Its Austin Facility Home
Hosts airport and travel industry partners at Western-themed event, complete with shuttle stampede and longhorn experience tours AUSTIN, Texas, June 30, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fast Park & Relax, a leading provider of offsite airport parking at some of the nation's busiest airports, recently celebrated releasing its new "herd" of shuttles to roam the roadways around Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). One of only a few destinations in Austin at which to see the legendary Texas longhorn, Fast Park revealed a new market-specific logo and larger-than-life longhorn shuttle designs that pay tribute to the true Texas icons. Opened in 2002, Fast Park Austin's 4,800-space, covered parking facility – located at 2300 Spirit of Texas Drive, just minutes from ABIA airport – is one of the largest facilities in the Fast Park portfolio. Just five years after establishing its parking operation, Fast Park turned its contiguous land into pastures with purpose, raising longhorn cattle. "We take tremendous pride in having these legendary animals greeting our guests as they embark on travel at ABIA," shares Rob Chavez, President of Fast Park & Relax. "Until now, we've never established market-specific brand elements. The Fast Park experience – from facility and shuttle design to our high-touch customer service and ground transportation model – is very consistent across our portfolio. We're excited to brand the uniqueness of our facility here in Austin!" Fast Park leaders from around the country joined local airport officials and industry and corporate partners to celebrate the release of the Texas branding and shuttle fleet. Local longhorn expert Mike Young with Callahan's General Store offered longhorn tours while more than a half-dozen steers happily grazed nearby. About Fast Park Fast Park is a leading offsite airport parking company headquartered in Cincinnati. With 17 facilities throughout the country, its brands include FastPark & Relax, FastPark2 and Park Place. Fast Park offers the highest-quality customer service at its facilities 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Its convenient shuttle service transports travelers directly from their parking spot to their terminal. Facilities are located in the following cities: Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore-BWI, Cincinnati-CVG, Cleveland, Houston-HOU & IAH, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Raleigh and Tucson. For more information, visit or visit Fast Park's Facebook page. View source version on Contacts Stacy Delksdelk@ 513-477-7145 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
