Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have made headway, as prominent AV companies have been successful in securing local licensing agreements and in bringing consumer vehicles to market. In August 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission granted Cruise and Waymo approval to operate their robotaxi services 24/7 in San Fransico. However, challenges in AV deployment have included accidents and interference with emergency response vehicles. Cruise had its operating permit revoked in California following a high-profile accident in October 2023, though it has since resumed fleet operations in California and Arizona. By 2024, 38 AV companies had licenses to drive in California alone. Waymo expanded its robotaxis to four U.S. cities that year and is preparing to launch operations in Tokyo in 2025. Tesla has deployed its Autopilot software to thousands of vehicles on the road, though a string of accidents and lawsuits has made regulators and consumers wary of the technology.

With widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption, critics worry that AV expansion will disincentivize public transit use and impede pedestrian mobility. Planners should continue to monitor the challenging rollout of AVs and consider the potential implications of the widespread deployment of this technology at the local level. PAS Report 592, Planning for Autonomous Vehicles, offers a comprehensive discussion of how planners can best prepare for AVs in their communities today.