Project 2:
PRESTO Martinez
Accessible Health Care Transportation Shuttles
PRESTO Martinez will address challenges related to health care needs by providing free, on-demand shuttle service for patients at the Contra Costa County hospital. Service will also be offered to residents making general trips around Martinez during off-peak hours, complementing the existing County Connection public bus service.
CCTA is partnering with May Mobility, a leader in AV development and deployment, to introduce a fleet of seven self-driving vehicles, three of which will be wheelchair accessible. The AVs operate at a maximum speed of 35 mph and will have a trained County Connection attendant on board to ensure prompt and safe service.
- Martinez, California
-
Monday - Friday
6 pm - 9:30 pm
How It Works
The Vehicle
Our Martinez fleet consists of the hybrid-electric Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS minivan, designed by Toyota with autonomous driving in mind. The vehicle can fit five passengers and includes trunk space for any groceries or other items riders need to stow. We also offer a wheelchair-accessible version of the Sienna, with an ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp, that can accommodate one rider in a wheelchair and two non-wheelchair riders simultaneously.
Technology and Equipment
Each autonomous vehicle is equipped with May Mobility’s patented Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology and a sensor suite of lidar, radar and cameras around the vehicle for 360° visibility. MPDM uses the data received from the sensors every 200 milliseconds to learn about its surroundings and imagine thousands of “what if” scenarios every second, choosing the safest driving maneuver every time. No white-knuckle rides, no close calls—just a calm journey from point A to B.
Safety Drivers
In compliance with May Mobility’s DMV AV test permit, a trained safety driver (or autonomous vehicle operator, AVO) can be found behind the wheel in every vehicle. AVOs provide customer service and monitor vehicle operations, including taking over when necessary. Our AVOs help to answer questions and will assist riders with various accessibility needs to enter and exit the vehicle, such as via the rear ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp.
Take a Ride
How to Ride in a May Mobility Autonomous Vehicle
The free service will run Monday through Friday, first offering County Hospital patients rides from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and then opening to the general public from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Patients can book rides to or from the County Hospital by calling (925) 995-3797 or by arranging travel with a hospital representative. The available stops currently include:
- CCRMC Main Entrance
- MHC Building 1
- Emergency Department Entrance
- Miller Wellness Center
- Nob Hill Foods
- Walmart
- Safeway
- Veteran Affairs
- Kaiser
From 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., anyone can book free on-demand AV rides through the May Mobility app (Google Play and App Store), or by calling (925) 995-3797. The app will match multiple riders headed in the same direction into a single AV, creating quick and efficient shared trips. The AVs will pick up and drop off riders at designated “virtual stops” that have been tested as safe places for AVs to start and stop.
Partners
& Stakeholders
