JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you find yourself in downtown Jacksonville, you might notice something unusual on the roads: vehicles without drivers.

But don’t be alarmed.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority has initiated testing of autonomous vehicles along the Bay Street Innovation Corridor (BSIC).

Testing of these AVs, which are Ford E-transit vans, began last week.

This initiative is part of the Ultimate Urban Circulator, also known as U2C.

The vehicles are being tested Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on a three-mile loop along Bay Street, stretching from Pearl Street to EverBank Stadium.

This testing marks phase one of integrating these vehicles into the JTA transportation system, with an official launch for passenger use this summer.

JTA says it is exploring innovative solutions to make transportation more accessible, creating extensions from downtown into surrounding neighborhoods .

Information about these AVs is available on tarps draped over barriers at various downtown locations, complete with QR codes for easy access to details.

During the testing phase, which will continue until summer, people will notice one person inside each AV.

This individual is the on-board attendant, the only person permitted inside the vehicle at this stage.

Once passenger services commence, JTA assures that these vehicles will be ADA compliant and adhere to vehicle standards.

The vehicles will be operated and maintained by JTA’s Autonomous Innovation Center (AIC).

Each vehicle can accommodate up to nine passengers and will travel alongside regular traffic.