Annual Conference on Autonomous Vehicles & Public Transport

The Annual Conference on Autonomous Vehicles & Public Transport serves as a pivotal gathering for transit agencies, public authorities, operators, manufacturers, and technology leaders focused on the evolution of autonomous and electric mobility. This year's conference, held in San Francisco, emphasizes the transition from pilot programs to scalable public transport solutions. Participants will delve into practical implementation aspects such as policy frameworks, funding mechanisms, workforce transformation, infrastructure readiness, data governance, and insights from early deployments across North America and globally. Among the contributors, Damera's team will provide valuable insights into right-sized transit solutions that address current operational needs while paving the way for future autonomous capabilities. Their low-floor, fully electric minibus, the eJEST, is designed to meet the demands of suburban and urban transit environments effectively. By aligning vehicle size with actual demand, the eJEST enables transit agencies to offer frequent and reliable service without the inefficiencies of full-size buses in lower-density areas. The eJEST integrates Level-4 autonomous driving technology, making it suitable for controlled environments and allowing agencies to explore automation where it offers clear operational benefits. The conference features prominent speakers such as Karsan’s representatives, who will share firsthand experiences from live deployments of autonomous buses across Europe and the United States. Their discussions will address real operating conditions, service design, and the practical steps agencies must undertake to incorporate autonomous vehicles into existing transit networks. Additionally, presentations will spotlight the operational performance of SAE Level-4 automated bus deployments, providing transit professionals with critical perspectives on autonomy readiness and the responsible scaling of automated public transport. Overall, this conference is an essential opportunity for professionals in the transit sector to explore advancements in electric and autonomous transit solutions, gaining insights that will help them navigate the next steps in enhancing public transportation.