A high-speed, driverless transport network “could transform the way people get around in Milton Keynes” after the City Council secured funding to research the idea.

Advanced Very Rapid Transport uses automated vehicles on purpose-designed segregated pathways. The City Council is receiving £200,000 funding to commission a study to determine how the AVRT project could fit in with the city’s current and proposed infrastructure.

The study will look at how AVRT could provide future transport solutions and deliver fast, frequent and reliable public transport. An area of key routes around 18 miles in and around Milton Keynes will be the focus of the study.

Milton Keynes City Council already has plans to boost its smart city reputation through delivering a modern mass transit system. The study will analyse how the systems could be integrated and build on the City Council’s innovation and sustainability ambitions.

“Delivering a sustainable and effective transport system is exactly what we need to do as a modern smart city,” commented Leader of the City Council, Pete Marland. “A project like this will not only enable us to move faster, it will also open up new gateways into our city, attracting a wider range of people to live, work and set up their businesses here. This study will help us look at how we make the most of the opportunities AVRT presents to bring cleaner and affordable travel to MK.”

Costain, ARUP, Equipmake, Avant Design and Conigital will assist with the project.

(Picture – Milton Keynes City Council)