Autonomous 'Hopper' makes comeback for Braves, Battery hoopla

Self-driving vehicles may seem like the future of transportation for tech entrepreneurs and generally lazy drivers, but for baseball (and alternative transportation) enthusiasts in Atlanta, that future is already here.  

The Cumberland Community Improvement District recently approved $325,000 for a second phase of their autonomous vehicle, or AV, pilot program dubbed “The Hopper.”

The AV currently takes passengers across the Interstate 285 pedestrian bridge that accesses The Battery and its marquee attraction, Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves.

According to project leaders, the Hopper has been a hit so far—if not a home run. 

Currently, the Hopper operates on Braves home gamedays and some other select dates, corresponding with high-volume events. Dates of service throughout July are available on the project’s website. 

And yes, the service is free.

According to Cumberland CID officials, passengers will also be able to access the Hopper on scheduled days through the remainder of this year.

The initial Hopper pilot phase ran from July 2023 until March and included an additional route that took riders through the Galleria Office Park. According to officials, rider feedback and other modes of research are being used to determine the best possible course for a second route.

The Hopper is the first project launched in connection with the Cumberland Sweep, a planned three-mile multimodal path connecting various points-of-interest in Cumberland and the surrounding area. Cumberland CID officials hope the initiative provides widespread walking, biking, and shuttle access and a safe, reliable, and easy means of commuting without personal vehicles.  

Project leaders say Cumberland Sweep construction is set to begin in October. [CORRECTION: 12:01 p.m., June 27: Cumberland CID's website includes a timeline showing that construction will begin this fall, but officials now say that's inaccurate and is being taken down, noting: “Construction was funded by [the Atlanta Regional Commission] only for Segment C of the Sweep and that is the first segment that will go to construction in 2027, not October of this year. C, D, E, and F Segments are funded through preliminary and engineering design and that is where they sit currently. They do not have construction dollars on this at this point.”]

The path of the current Hopper pilot program won’t necessarily be a route that remains accessible to the Hopper when the Cumberland Sweep project is complete, but the permanent Hopper will have a dedicated route, officials tell Urbanize Atlanta.  

The AV used for the Hopper initiative was engineered by Beep, which has successfully carried out similar pilot programs across the country. The Hopper has seen some of the highest ridership of any of Beep’s vehicles nationwide, according to Adam Ross, Cumberland CID director of public and government affairs. 

Ross also tells Urbanize that while the Cumberland Sweep is still in the design phase, the project’s construction budget is already fully funded. A timeline that includes a future outlook is available on the project’s website.  

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