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.

By: DocMemory
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