Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation designated 10 sites in nine states that will serve as proving grounds for testing self-driving vehicles. The sites were selected from a competitive group of over 60 applicants that included academic institutions, state Departments of Transportation, cities and private entities and partnerships.
These designations are a logical next step in the Department’s effort to advance the safe deployment of automated technology.
“The designated proving grounds will collectively form a Community of Practice around safe testing and deployment,” said Secretary Foxx in a statement. “This group will openly share best practices for the safe conduct of testing and operations as they are developed, enabling the participants and the general public to learn at a faster rate and accelerating the pace of safe deployment.”
Beyond creating best practices to advance the safe deployment of automated technology, the proving grounds will also provide critical insights into optimal big data usage through testing and will serve as a foundation for automated vehicle research.
The Proving Ground designees are:
- City of Pittsburgh and the Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute
- Texas AV Proving Grounds Partnership
- U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center
- American Center for Mobility (ACM) at Willow Run
- Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) & GoMentum Station
- San Diego Association of Governments
- Iowa City Area Development Group
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Central Florida Automated Vehicle Partners
- North Carolina Turnpike Authority
More details about the designations may be found at www.transportation.gov/AV.
