PHOTO: An undated courtesy image provided by the city of Grand Rapids shows a May Mobility autonomous shuttle retrofitted with COVID-19 prevention measures.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — City leaders say the May Mobility service's free autonomous shuttle service will soon again be rolling down the streets of downtown Grand Rapids, with some changes.
The shuttle service was halted in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, city employees involved in the autonomous vehicle initiative have been working with May Mobility to retrofit the city’s eight shuttles for a cleaner, safer ride.
All rides will be limited to a single passenger or group of riders from the same household or party, up to 4 maximum. Everyone on board must wear a face covering, including the shuttle attendant.
After he service restarts Aug. 31, passengers will notice the shuttles have a partition separating the shuttle’s attendant and the passenger area. The air conditioning system is also split between both zones and features a new filtration system typically found in hospital settings.
After each trip, a UV-C light treatment system created by Holland-based GHSP and installed in each shuttle will disinfect the interior. Each vehicle will be dry fogged daily to disinfect all surfaces.
The shuttle service launched in Grand Rapids in July 2019 as part of a pilot program.
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