An automated taxi drives through downtown San Francisco
DRIVERLESS CARS ARE NOW A REALITY
Automated vehicles (AVs) are currently grabbing headlines in San Francisco as driverless-taxi companies like Waymo and Cruise expand their service options in the city.
It likely won’t be long before this technology pushes south into the Peninsula and Silicon Valley. With this in mind, San Mateo County transportation experts are working to create a strategic plan that can address a wide range of AV possibilities destined for our local roads, paths and walkways.
AVs have the potential to revolutionize how shuttles, transit, freight, delivery and other forms of transportation move throughout the county.
"It's important that the TA look to the future regarding both personal and shared automated vehicles," said San Mateo County Transportation Authority (TA) Director of Planning and Fund Management Patrick Gilster. "Having a strategic plan in place for their inevitable arrival will help us ensure the vehicles not only work with our overall transportation plans, but equitably serve all San Mateo County residents."
The TA and the City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) are co-sponsoring the project and will work this fall to develop a framework for AV pilot programs, projects, and activities based on feedback from cities, AV companies and regulatory agencies that was collected over the summer.
“As the county’s congestion management agency, C/CAG recognizes that AVs have the potential to improve the safety and reliability of traveling on our local roadways,” said Sean Charpentier, C/CAG’s Executive Director. “With a good plan in place, this technology has the potential to completely redefine mobility, including challenges around first and last mile connections.”
This winter, a draft strategic document will be prepared.
The project includes a five-year action plan that will be designed to share federal, state, and local visions for improving connectivity and mobility.
Have thoughts on what the future of AVs should look like in San Mateo County? Check back on the TA’s project webpage early this fall to register for the virtual AV workshop to help identify which strategies should be prioritized for further exploration in San Mateo County.