Take A Free Ride On MnDot's Autonomous Shuttle Bus

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Minnesota Department of Transportation is offering free rides on its autonomous shuttle bus Jan. 26-28 in downtown Minneapolis. The driverless bus will be at Nicollet Mall from 3rd Street to 4th Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“The rides will help the public see how autonomous vehicle technology works and experience what will someday be mainstream in the way we travel,” MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle said in a statement. “We invite anyone interested in this kind of technology to see for themselves what the future of transportation will be like.”

MnDOT has been testing the autonomous bus since November at its cold weather testing facility, MnROAD, near Albertville. Transit officials are researching how the bus would handle a harsh Minnesota winter.

MnDOT staff and representatives from 3M, which is partnering with MnDOT, will be on hand to discuss the project.

Image courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Transportation