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Record of Proceedings

Boca Raton CRA Regular Meeting May 12, 2025: Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Approved

Boca Raton Public Meetings — Monday, May 12, 2025
BodyBoca Raton, Florida
SessionBoca Raton Public Meetings
DateMonday, May 12, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 57:33

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0:02

Okay.

0:03

Let's call this meeting to order.

0:05

This is a regularly scheduled community redevelopment agency of Booker Retone meeting.

0:09

Today is Monday, May 12th, 2025.

0:12

The time is 1 30 p.m.

0:13

and the meeting is called to order.

0:15

Please everyone rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:19

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:26

One nation under about with liturgy and justice for all.

0:36

Thank you.

0:37

Ms.

0:37

Siddons, please call the roll.

0:39

Chair Wicter.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Vice Chair Thompson.

0:42

Thankful to be here.

0:43

Commissioner Drucker here.

0:44

Commissioner Nackless.

0:45

Commissioner Singer.

0:46

Here.

0:47

All present.

0:48

Thank you very much.

0:48

Mr.

0:49

Brown, are there any amendments to the agenda?

0:51

No amendments this afternoon.

0:53

Thanks.

0:53

Very well.

0:54

Are there any corrections to the minutes?

0:56

If not, I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes of April 21st, 2025.

1:00

So moved.

1:01

Second.

1:01

Second.

1:02

All in favor?

1:03

Aye.

1:04

Thank you.

1:06

There are no presentations today, nor are there any quasi judicial or related public hearings.

1:12

So now we'll go for the CRA to the time for public requests.

1:17

Anyone wishing to speak on issues related to our community redevelopment agency will have the opportunity to speak, state your name and address for the record, and limit your remarks to three minutes.

1:30

Seeing no one come forward, we will close the time for public requests and proceed to resolutions and regular public hearings for which there are none, nor are there any other businesses or settlements to consider.

1:42

So we will turn to our director's report, and I'm very excited to introduce Mr.

1:46

Brown.

1:48

Thank you, Chair.

1:49

We direct Zach Beer, our Public Works and Engineering Director is here to make a presentation on our ongoing mobility updates, particularly with regard to an autonomous vehicle pilot project.

2:03

Thank you much.

2:05

Mr.

2:05

Beer, welcome.

2:11

Good afternoon, CRA Chair and Commissioners.

2:14

Zach Beer, your public works and engineering director.

2:17

As stated uh really quick, we're going to go through some background on the latest on Boca Connect, the extension update, and also the guidant autonomous uh vehicles.

2:27

So Boca Connect uh was approved by the uh CRA Commission and recently expanded to the portions of the Barrier Island in late February 2025.

2:36

And really quick, just to reiterate uh for anybody watching, trips must begin and end in the red service area.

2:43

So a trip can go anywhere from the blue area to the red area, and vice versa, with a nominal fare of $2 per ride and one uh for each additional rider, and then rides that begin and end in the red area are uh free of charge.

3:00

And really quick on the uh ridership expansion.

3:04

As you can see, the program and uh progress has developed over the uh from the inception to the program, and the latest data that we have available that is complete and published is March 2025 with a total rides of 2,030 and total passengers of 3,001 with a average wait time of eight minutes and 55 seconds.

3:25

So over time the program continues to develop, and uh we've seen uh progressive increases in ridership, and certainly it appears as though the uh continued promotion of uh the Boca Connect is is getting out and seeing ridership.

3:41

So now uh Mr.

3:43

Beer, sorry to interrupt.

3:44

Yes, sir.

3:45

On the last uh slide, did uh was the date where we introduced barrier island service is is that was it was that right at the February to March uh difference?

3:58

Yeah, there was uh it was into February, but March's data does show the in in inclusion of the Bearer Island ridership.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Technology and Innovation█████████████████████████████████████████████47%
Transportation Safety██████████████████████████████31%
Public Engagement███████7%
Downtown Planning███████7%
Procedural█████5%
Public-Private Partnerships███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Boca Raton CRA Regular Meeting – May 12, 2025

The Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) held its regular meeting on May 12, 2025, from 1:30 PM to 2:27 PM. The meeting focused on the Director's Report, which included an autonomous vehicle pilot project proposal. Commissioners also discussed downtown maintenance, historical context, and future infrastructure planning. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call (all five commissioners present), approval of the April 21, 2025 minutes, and no public comments.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of April 21, 2025: Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke during the public requests period.

Discussion Items

  • Autonomous Vehicle Pilot Project (Director’s Report – Item 10A)

    • Zach Beer, Public Works and Engineering Director, presented an update on Boca Connect (on-demand shuttle service) and a proposed autonomous vehicle (AV) pilot. Key Boca Connect statistics (March 2025): 2,030 rides, 3,001 passengers, average wait time 8 minutes 55 seconds. Expansion to Barrier Island began late February 2025.
    • Staff proposed a three-month Phase 1 pilot using a Level 4 autonomous shuttle (Guidant/Amica) on a 0.5-mile loop in Mizner Park with 4–6 stops. The cost is $90,405, including a safety operator, vehicle insurance, and NHTSA approval. Service was initially scoped for four days/week, nine hours/day. Commissioner Nachlas asked about integrating with the Circuit app; staff committed to follow up.
    • Guidant CEO Mr. Braun described the company’s successes, including a West Palm Beach pilot (launched April 16, 2025) on a 0.9-mile route with six stops, achieving 113 riders per week. He noted that Phase 1 data would accelerate NHTSA approvals for subsequent phases.
    • Commissioner Positions:
      • Mayor Scott Singer expressed that Phase 1 in Mizner Park alone would have low ridership and urged accelerating to Phase 2/3 (crossing Palmetto Park Road to Royal Palm Place). He suggested a six-month pilot or immediate application for broader routes.
      • Commissioner Yvette Drucker voiced frustration with delays, noting that West Palm Beach launched in under six months. She called for proactive policy work and parallel planning for Phase 2/3, particularly linking to BRIC and Tri-Rail.
      • Commissioner Fran Nachlas supported Phase 1 as a necessary first step to demonstrate safety and gain federal approval, but agreed the goal should be quick progression to Phase 2/3.
      • Chair Marc Wigder and Vice Chair Andy Thomson echoed the consensus: proceed with Phase 1 to gather data, while simultaneously working on policy and approvals to expedite Phase 2/3.
    • Outcome: Staff received direction to (1) amend the Circuit contract to include Guidant for Phase 1, (2) obtain an updated proposal for seven-day/week service, and (3) immediately begin evaluating routes, speed limits, and policy needs for Phase 2/3 to shorten the timeline to under one year. The pilot will be used primarily as a testbed.

  • Commissioner Reports (Item 12)

    • Chair Wigder noted downtown maintenance progress (gazebo painting, fiber optic work, landscaping). He inquired about a permanent fence for the amphitheater field to reduce costs for frequent festivals; staff will consider the idea.
    • Chair shared historical research from 1963 city planning (August 1963 minutes) that parallels current infrastructure needs, and referenced a Pompano Beach CRA bond issuance as a model. He emphasized the need for timely action to finance the downtown master plan before the CRA’s tax increment financing expires in 2042.

Key Outcomes

  • Minutes approved unanimously.
  • Autonomous Vehicle Pilot: Conceptual approval with direction to staff to finalize Phase 1 (Mizner Park loop) while simultaneously advancing policy and NHTSA applications for Phase 2/3. The pilot is expected to start within a few months (pending contract amendment and permits).
  • Amphitheater fence: Staff will evaluate feasibility of a permanent fence.
  • Next Steps: Staff to return with a revised contract and timeline, and to coordinate with the City Attorney’s Office on autonomous vehicle route designations.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Let's call this meeting to order. This is a regularly scheduled community redevelopment agency of Booker Retone meeting. Today is Monday, May 12th, 2025. The time is 1 30 p.m. and the meeting is called to order. Please everyone rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. One nation under about with liturgy and justice for all. Thank you. Ms. Siddons, please call the roll. Chair Wicter. Here. Vice Chair Thompson. Thankful to be here. Commissioner Drucker here. Commissioner Nackless. Commissioner Singer. Here. All present. Thank you very much. Mr. Brown, are there any amendments to the agenda? No amendments this afternoon. Thanks. Very well. Are there any corrections to the minutes? If not, I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes of April 21st, 2025. So moved. Second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. There are no presentations today, nor are there any quasi judicial or related public hearings. So now we'll go for the CRA to the time for public requests. Anyone wishing to speak on issues related to our community redevelopment agency will have the opportunity to speak, state your name and address for the record, and limit your remarks to three minutes. Seeing no one come forward, we will close the time for public requests and proceed to resolutions and regular public hearings for which there are none, nor are there any other businesses or settlements to consider. So we will turn to our director's report, and I'm very excited to introduce Mr. Brown. Thank you, Chair. We direct Zach Beer, our Public Works and Engineering Director is here to make a presentation on our ongoing mobility updates, particularly with regard to an autonomous vehicle pilot project. Thank you much. Mr. Beer, welcome. Good afternoon, CRA Chair and Commissioners. Zach Beer, your public works and engineering director. As stated uh really quick, we're going to go through some background on the latest on Boca Connect, the extension update, and also the guidant autonomous uh vehicles. So Boca Connect uh was approved by the uh CRA Commission and recently expanded to the portions of the Barrier Island in late February 2025.

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