Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicle technology, in the form of driverless rail, has been around for decades. Americans currently have few opportunities to experience this technology outside of people movers at major airports, but in other countries major subway lines (including in Paris and Seoul) -- and even entire rail systems (such as Vancouver's SkyTrain) -- operate without drivers. As such systems become the industry standard, transit providers will be able to re-deploy their workforces to tasks such as maintenance, security, and customer service, improving the ridership experience. 

In coming years, we anticipate this technology expanding to road-based vehicles. This will not only allow for bus riders to enjoy the same benefits autonomous rail riders do, but also will enable transit to serve low-density areas better than ever before. Fleets of shared vans and individual pods could ferry riders from their homes to stations on rail and Bus Rapid Transit corridors, providing fast, reliable, and stress-free mobility throughout metropolitan areas while freeing city centers from traffic congestion. In tandem with improvements to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, they could also fulfill local transportation needs in areas currently lacking non-car options, allowing those areas to reclaim parking lots for useful purposes such as construction of parks, schools, housing, retail, and sports complexes.