Boca Raton’s Autonomous Shuttle Service Plans Expansion to Royal Palm Place

The MiCa autonomous vehicle, powered by Guident software, poised to be launched in Dec. 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Boca Raton’s autonomous shuttle service will begin to move riders between Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place in the coming months, marking the first expansion of the service after statistics showed a successful pilot run that began in December.

The autonomous shuttle service was introduced in November and began shuttling passengers around the loop at Mizner Park shortly after. The vehicles, manufactured by Estonian EV maker MiCa, are powered by advanced software and sensors developed by Guident, an autonomous tech startup that is based at Boca Raton’s BRIC complex. The company has also provided its platform for pilot programs in Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, but representatives said the results from Boca Raton have proven some of the most positive thus far, largely free of technical hiccups or safety issues.

The shuttle, during its initial pilot around Mizner Park, ran autonomously 93 percent of the time, according to statistics compiled by Guident and the city. The MiCa vehicles do include a human operator that can step in if a situation calls for it, however manual control was engaged only in “limited, situational cases,” said Public Works and Engineering Director Zachary Bihr. Those cases included circumventing double-parked or obstructing vehicles, and managing the vehicle’s path during special events. None of the manual interventions actually interrupted service, and the vehicle proved the concept of its sensor technology on several occasions when pedestrians crossed in front of the vehicle or in one case when a soccer ball rolled out into the street, in the vehicle’s path.

Boca by the Numbers

During the period from Dec. 18, 2025 through Jan. 31, 2026, the MiCa vehicles drove 134 miles at an average of 19 miles per week, logged 62 service hours, and completed 150 loops with an average duration of 12 minutes and zero unplanned downtime. Ridership reached 527 passengers — an average of 25 riders per operating day and 9 per operating hour — surpassing the West Palm Beach benchmark of 8.5 passengers per hour. Customer feedback was limited but entirely positive, with two favorable comments and none unfavorable.

The MiCa autonomous vehicle, powered by Guident software, poised to be launched in Dec. 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The majority of passengers took the shuttle in the 7-8 p.m. hour, with the two most popular stops being Eddie V’s and Calaveras Cantina, two restaurants along the Mizner Park loop. Ridership was about equal Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with about half the traffic on Thursdays.

Expansion Begins

The shuttle, officials announced at a recent city council meeting, was due to start service between Mizner Park and Royal Palm Place over the course of the next few months, the first expansion of what officials hope to evolve to a service that connects the entire downtown corridor and the beach. City officials have also floated the idea of using autonomous vehicles to perform a “medical loop” that can connect residents with various medical services and facilities.

The expanded route will include two new stops – the Hyatt Hotel and one in the center of the Royal Palm business district – connecting visitors between Mizner Park and Royal Palm, which would equal a 2 mile round-trip walk.

Phases two and three of the future Boca Raton autonomous shuttle program. (Credit: Boca Raton CRA)

The MiCa autonomous vehicle, powered by Guident software, poised to be launched in Dec. 2025 in Boca Raton, Fla. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The infrared view of the MiCa autonomous shuttle. (Credit: Boca Raton CRA)

As the service expands, city officials and Guident are working on permitting from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that would allow the vehicles to access additional roadways and operate with even more autonomy. An application was sent to NHTSA on Feb. 4, which is expected to complete its review sometime the summer. Meanwhile, Guident is preparing for its IPO on the NASDAQ under the ticker “GDNT,” representing another publicly-traded company headquartered in Boca Raton.