The Cumberland Community Improvement District’s (CID) successful autonomous (AV) shuttle pilot program, the Cumberland Hopper, reached an extraordinary milestone this week with 10,000 riders. This remarkable achievement further elevates the Cumberland CID’s leadership in the AV industry. The Cumberland CID along with its partner, Beep, Inc., a national leader in autonomous shared mobility solutions, launched the Cumberland Hopper in July 2023. The AV shuttle is planned to operate through December 2024.
The Hopper is a fully electric autonomous shuttle provided free to the community by the Cumberland CID as part of a major mobility project called the Cumberland Sweep. The Sweep will include a 3+ mile path around the core of the Cumberland District with dedicated walking and biking lanes and an autonomous shuttle system with the goal of connecting people to jobs and Cumberland’s major assets. The majority of the Sweep is currently in design, and construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.
“The community enthusiasm and ridership with the Cumberland Hopper is astounding,” said Kim Menefee, executive director for the Cumberland CID. “Workers, residents, and visitors have had the benefit of experiencing this cutting-edge technology right here in our district. With a planned AV shuttle system a few years away, Cumberland is poised to revolutionize shared mobility and help transform the future of transportation.”
“Beep is thrilled to celebrate the Cumberland Hopper reaching its 10,000th rider, a clear testament to the community’s confidence in the transformative opportunity that autonomous mobility provides,” said Joe Moye, CEO of Beep. “This pilot program marks the first step toward realizing the Cumberland CID’s vision for the future of transportation with the Cumberland Sweep program, which will establish a safe and accessible transit network throughout the community. By connecting residents, visitors and businesses to jobs, goods and services in the area, Cumberland will continue to thrive as one of the region’s most vibrant areas. We applaud the leadership and board of Cumberland CID for their commitment to innovation and mobility for all.”
Key survey findings (n=200+) on the Cumberland CID’s AV Shuttle Pilot Program (Cumberland Hopper):
- 90 percent had a good experience riding the Hopper
- 84 percent said the shuttle arrived at their stop in a reasonable amount of time
- 87 percent support seeing more AV shuttles in the Cumberland area.
- 93 percent felt safe riding the Hopper
To learn more about the Hopper or Cumberland Sweep, visit https://cumberlandsweep.org/.
About Cumberland CID
The Cumberland Community Improvement District (CID), Georgia’s first CID, is one of the nation’s premier models of public-private collaboration. More than 190 Commercial property owners pay additional property taxes, and the CID leverages these funds to advance key projects for increased access, better connectivity, and a more vibrant character throughout the Cumberland area. Each year, the CID creates more value for the community by initiating and leading enhancements to make Cumberland a more attractive place to operate a business, to work, and to live. Today, Cumberland has a $26.6 billion annual impact on Georgia’s economy. Cumberland is home to leading companies including The Home Depot, Papa Johns, TKE, Comcast, Genuine Parts Company, and more. To learn more about the Cumberland CID, the Cumberland Sweep, and the Cumberland Hopper autonomous shuttle pilot program, please visit cumberlandcid.org.
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