Autonomous vehicles could bridge transportation gaps for people living in rural areas.

University of Georgia researchers are a key partner in a first-of-its-kind research center devoted to advancing autonomous vehicle (AV) availability in rural and tribal communities.

The Tribal and Rural Autonomous Vehicles for Equity, Liability and Safety (TRAVELS) Center at UW-Madison is supported by a $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and six collaborating institutions, including Oklahoma State University, the University of Washington, Morgan State University, Northern Oklahoma College, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the University of Georgia.

The project will provide UGA about $3.6 million in funding to bring the benefits of AV technology to rural Georgia, enhancing safety, accessibility, and efficiency.

“We are thrilled to partner with UW-Madison on this program, which will help accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge AV technologies in vast rural and tribal areas of the country,” said UGA team lead Handong Yao, assistant professor in the College of Engineering. “We look forward to applying our research towards innovative solutions to real-world challenges.”

Rural Georgia is home to over one-fifth of the state’s population, offering an affordable cost of living, but facing major transportation challenges. Nearly a quarter of all vehicle miles traveled occur on rural roadways, which are among the most hazardous in the state. Georgia ranks 4th in the nation for fatalities on non-interstate rural roads, with 4% of rural roads in poor condition and 15% in mediocre condition. 

There are many barriers to transportation services in rural communities, including a lack of or limited availability of services like public transit, as well as physical infrastructure limitations and workforce shortages. Public transportation options are also insufficient. Annual rural transit demand ranges from 0.56 million to 5.39 million trips, yet 29 counties have no transit services, and 66% of rural counties lack a regional or multi-county transit system. Additionally, 90.4% of transit agencies lack route mapping data, making trip planning difficult, while 99% of rural transit fleets are not zero-emission, hindering sustainability efforts. 

“AV technologies are closely connected to electric mobility, and together, they are critical to the future of sustainable transportation in Georgia,” said Bjorn Birgisson, chair of the UGA School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering and executive director of the Georgia Network for Electric Mobility. “This project will enhance the integration of AV technologies across the state and support the accessibility of electric mobility.”

TRAVELS aligns with Georgia’s rural development strategy by expanding broadband access, fostering economic growth, and improving mobility and safety through AV technologies. 

The program consists of four core services:

• Digital Infrastructure & Road Enhancement for Connected Transportation (DIRECT) – Upgrades roads, signage, and connectivity for safer travel.
• Healthcare & On-Demand Rapid Autonomous Vehicles (HONR-AV) – Provides 24/7 AV services for healthcare and emergency response.
• Cross-Jurisdiction Rural Economic Autonomous Transit (CREAT) – Improves regional transit connectivity accessibility opportunities.
• Tourist & Event Autonomous Shuttles (TEAS) – Deploys AV shuttles and digital infrastructure for tourism and special events.

Through TRAVELS, the UGA research team will collaborate with the six partner universities, 34 state transportation agencies, and five key industry partners to reduce rural roadway fatalities, increase transit accessibility, and integrate advanced transportation technologies to enhance overall efficiency and sustainability in rural Georgia.

“The University of Georgia is honored to be a part of this national effort and help lead the charge on AV research and applications,” said UGA College of Engineering interim dean Stephan Durham. “I’m confident this project is only the start of many other and larger projects in this growing field.”

The center will begin a six-year project in 2025 that will unfold in three phases: research, demonstration and deployment. 

Contact: Handong Yao, [email protected]
Writer: Lillian Ballance, [email protected]; Alex Holloway, [email protected]