Piloting Autonomous Vehicles in Rockingham County, North Carolina

This pilot project aims to develop and pilot autonomous vehicle (AV)-enabled microtransit system that enhances transportation efficiency, economic participation, and social connectivity in rural communities through innovative, AI-driven mobility solutions.  With strong existing partnerships and local community engagement, our initial testbed will be Rockingham County, NC. Our initial community partners include, but are not limited to, Rockingham County Government, Aging, Disability, and Transit Services (ADTS), the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Morehead High School, Rockingham County Public Library, UNC Rockingham Health Care Emergency Department, UNC Health Rockingham Hospital, Eden Family YMCA, local businesses, and other key stakeholders. These partnerships will play a vital role in co-designing and implementing an effective, microtransit system tailored to the needs of the region. By integrating autonomous vehicles with AI-enhanced multimodal transit solutions, the project will increase mobility options, expand economic opportunities, improve healthcare access, and strengthen community connectivity.