Testing began Monday on the driverless vehicles for Capital Metro’s pilot shuttle program that is set to launch this fall in downtown Austin. This week Capital Metro officials are completing the mapping portion of the testing to help the vehicles learn the route and where the signals and signs are located, said Mariette Hummel, a spokeswoman for Capital Metro. “It’s putting information into the vehicle and it is learning about the route and the traffic situations,” she said. Mapping is taking place at night from midnight to 4 a.m. along Third Street between the Austin Convention Center and Republic Square Park. City transportation officials as well as representatives from RATP Dev USA, one of Capital Metro’s transit service providers, are assisting with the mapping, Hummel said. Next week, Austin residents will see the vehicles at all times of the day for the second phase in which the vehicles will drive autonomously with a buffer vehicle in front and in back, Hummel said. Testing will wrap up Aug. 5. “People will see these vehicles rolling down the street very slowly, no more than 5 mph,” she said. During the testing phase, residents won’t be able to ride the vehicles, but Hummel said next week Capital Metro staffers will be present to answer any questions they might have. RATP Dev USA is paying for the testing phase. Capital Metro will fund the pilot program through its innovation budget proposed for the fiscal year 2018-19 budget. After the testing phase, the information will be presented to the Capital Metro board, which will choose between two vehicle manufacturers to lease six vehicles for the 12-month pilot. Although a route has not yet been set, the autonomous vehicles will make stops at the Central Library, City Hall and downtown MetroRail station. Riders will be able to take the shuttle for free.