City of Hof builds second shuttle route
Shuttle Model Region Upper Franconia (SMO)
The city of Hof is part of the nationally acclaimed Shuttle Model Region Upper Franconia research project. In addition to the existing route in the city center, a second route is now being set up for further research purposes.
In the city of Hof as a test field, a semi-automated shuttle has been commuting between the train station and the city center since 2021. The technology is constantly being improved and experience gained. As part of the second research project SMO II since 2022, further important results are being developed. The research consortium consists of renowned companies, universities and local authorities.
Hof is now setting another milestone with the opening of the second test route, the so-called university route, on which sections without an operator on board are planned on public land for the first time.
Private transport and especially local public transport are facing major upheavals in Germany. The main drivers are climate change, new drive systems and digitalization with regard to partially automated or autonomous driving. At the same time, it is important to make public transport more efficient, economical, flexible, environmentally friendly and optimally adapted to the needs of potential users, especially outside of metropolitan areas. The research project, with initially partially automated shuttles, is intended as a contribution to achieving these goals in the future.
This project in particular will take up future-oriented problem-solving approaches in public transport and test them with the help of state-of-the-art technologies.
Driving without an operator on board
The city of Hof is now aiming to become one of the top 20 or so German pilot projects. With the establishment of the second route in Hof in the area of the university and university quarter, the focus is not on passenger transportation, but on the scientific and traffic law aspects. From the summer, sections of this route will be used on public land without an operator on board. This will be made possible by the Autonomous Vehicle Approval and Operation Ordinance (AFGBV), which has been in force since 2022 and designates the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) as the relevant implementing body. A test permit is required for driverless driving on public roads. There are hardly any examples of this in Germany.
The regulation requires extensive safety and technology concepts in advance and currently stipulates operation without passengers. According to the new legal requirements, the use of autonomous vehicles will initially only be restricted to officially approved areas of operation. In addition, an external supervisor, the technical supervisor, is required as a human fallback level. The approval hurdles are therefore high. This is also one reason why this new second route was selected in Hof, where it is estimated that driverless driving is possible on some sections.
The preparations for this test in Hof have been realized primarily with the support of the consortium leader Valeo in the research project.
Route operation from June
After the first test drives, regular operation of the route with free rides is planned from around the beginning of June. For a few weeks in the summer, there will then be purely autonomous driving on sections of the route without an operator as far as possible.
The shuttle with its electric drive will not cause any noise pollution. The charging station will be located at Einstein1, stops will be set up and small signs, the landmarks, will be installed as orientation points for the shuttle on sections without buildings. However, minor traffic changes will be necessary, which will be signposted accordingly:
- In the area of the traffic circle in Enoch-Widman-Straße/Albert-Einstein-Straße, the speed will be reduced to 30 km/h.
- The two junctions of Georg-Könitzer Straße and Wirthstraße, as well as the junction of Hans-Hofner-Straße and Jobst-Rüthner-Straße, will both require drivers to wait. "Give way" will then apply there.
- The connecting road between Enoch-Widman-Straße and Leimitzer Straße will be closed to all traffic with the exception of agricultural vehicles.
- Additional stops will be signposted along the entire route.
The existing route in the city center will continue to operate.