Sportran Brings Driverless Vehicles to Shreveport

Shreveport becomes the second city in the nation to work with autonomous buses, backed by federal funding.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Robotics

Unbranded autonomous transit vehicle with a sensor-equipped roof and an extended wheelchair ramp at a downtown Shreveport-style curb beside brick buildings. — Sportran plans to deploy driverless buses in Shreveport, becoming the second U.S. city to pilot autonomous transit under federal funding. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you ride a driverless bus to downtown or the entertainment district in Shreveport?

Sportran is bringing driverless vehicles to Shreveport, Louisiana, with the vehicles to be stationed in the city. Shreveport is the second city in the nation to work with autonomous buses, and the work is funded by federal funding.

Why it matters

Sportran is adding transportation options as downtown and the entertainment district grow. The shift also creates room for new digital-age technology jobs tied to LIDAR and sensors that public transit does not currently employ.

Shreveport is ranked second in the nation for autonomous bus work, a position that positions the city among early adopters. The extraction does not provide vehicle specifications, sensor counts, or the timeline for deployment.

The players

Sportran

Sportran is the public transit provider serving Shreveport, Louisiana, and is leading the effort to bring driverless vehicles to the city.

The details

The driverless vehicles will serve medical areas including hospitals and the entertainment district. A human service attendant will remain in each vehicle to assist with wheelchair ramps and ADA passengers, and Sportran says the technology would not eliminate jobs, though current positions would shift.

Article on the driverless vehicles coming to Shreveport was published November 11, 2026.

Between the Lines

Sportran's move extends sensor-based autonomous vehicle technology, such as LIDAR, into public transit, a sector where the extraction notes it does not currently employ such jobs. The development places Shreveport among the first cities to test autonomous buses at scale.

Riders needing wheelchair ramps or ADA accommodations will continue to receive in-vehicle help from an attendant. Residents heading to hospitals or the entertainment district may see new transit options as the vehicles are rolled out.

The takeaway

Shreveport's early move into autonomous buses shows how federal funding and local transit agencies can pilot new technology while keeping human support in place for riders who need it most.