Data Analysis Study Conducted in Texas Found That 64.8 Percent of the Respondents Were Strongly Likely to Use Shared Automated Vehicle Service
Surveys and Interviews Explored User Preferences for Shared Automated Vehicle Deployment.
Arlington, Texas, United States
Identifying individuals’ perceptions, attitudes, preferences, and concerns of shared autonomous vehicles: During- and post-implementation evidence
Summary Information
Automated vehicles (AVs) and shared automated vehicles (SAVs) have the potential to reshape transportation systems, offering improvements in safety, mobility, and efficiency. This study analyzed the RAPID (Rideshare, Automation, and Payment Integration Demonstration) pilot project in Arlington, Texas, which operated SAVs within the city and on the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) campus. The pilot provided an opportunity to gather empirical data from both users and non-users of SAV services, capturing attitudes shaped by actual on-the-ground exposure. The technology centered on a high level of automation such as SAE Level 4 although not specified in source. SAVs integrated into an on-demand ridesharing system, operated through collaborations between the City of Arlington, UTA, and external private partners.
METHODOLOGY
The study employed a case study approach centered on the Arlington RAPID, which operated from March 2021 to March 2022. This pilot project integrated AVs into an existing on-demand ridesharing service, offering free rides to UTA students and fare-based rides to the general public. The service operated Monday through Friday, with five vehicles covering downtown Arlington and the UTA campus.
The data collection method had two steps:
- Self-reported surveys. An online questionnaire was designed to capture the attitudes, perceptions, and concerns of SAV users and non-users. It included six sections covering SAV experience, perceptions, attitudes toward AV technology, travel behavior, residential accessibility, and sociodemographic details. Distributed with the help of the City of Arlington and a private sector partner, the survey received 717 responses, with 264 valid entries retained after data cleaning.
- Post-implementation interviews. Semi-structured interviews explored individual travel behavior, perceptions of the SAV service, attitudes toward AV technology, and sociodemographic profiles. A screening survey was distributed to identify potential participants who had used the RAPID SAV service at least once. Of 31 interested respondents, 11 (4 UTA faculty/staff and 7 students) participated in virtual interviews, each averaging 29 minutes.
The study employed quantitative analysis of the surveys and qualitative analysis of the interviews to assess the factors influencing the acceptance and perception of SAVs.
FINDINGS
The survey results indicated that 64.8 percent of the respondents were strongly likely to utilize the service.
