Yesterday, the city of Austin took another step forward in its Smart Mobility Roadmap by joining a new autonomous vehicle deployment program pilot. The pilot, known as INRIX AV Road Rules, will, according to a press release from the city, serve “as a foundation for cities and road authorities to communicate with operators for the safe and effective deployment of highly automated vehicles on public roads.” According to that same press release, INRIX AV Road Rules is the first platform that allows cities to monitor and manage traffic rules for autonomous vehicles on public roads. “This pilot is a major step forward in Austin’s efforts to use technology to help solve our most pressing transportation issues,” said Jason JonMichael, ATD’s assistant director for smart mobility. “We’re excited to participate in the INRIX AV Road Rules program to foster more efficient and accurate data sharing between autonomous vehicles, their data providers and Austin Transportation. This will help us realize Austin’s autonomous future in the safest, most effective and most efficient way possible.” Austin joins Boston; Cambridge, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; Las Vegas; and other cities in implementing the pilot.
Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor. More by Elizabeth Pagano