U.S. Selects 10 Facilities to Vet Self-Driving Car Systems

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has chosen 10 proving grounds in nine states to validate the safety and performance of technologies that enable cars to drive themselves.

The sites were selected in a process that began in November and involved more than 60 applicants comprising state departments of transportation, academic institutions, cities, military facilities and private entities. The designees all must have facilities ready to conduct testing by Jan. 1, 2018.

The winners by state are:

• California: Contra Costa Transportation Authority (GoMentum Station); San Diego Assn. of Governments
• Florida: Central Florida Automated Vehicle Partners
• Iowa: Iowa City Area Development Group
• Maryland: U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center
• Michigan: American Center for Mobility
• North Carolina: N. Carolina Turnpike Authority
• Pennsylvania: City of Pittsburg and Thomas Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
• Texas: Texas AV Proving Grounds Partnership
• Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin-Madison

DOT detailed its policy on automated vehicles and how they should be vetted in a 112-page report issued last September and available HERE.