Autonomous Vehicles Working Group

DC is preparing for the emergence of self-driving vehicles. The Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Working Group, established by Mayor Bowser in February 2018 (Mayor's Order 2018-018), engages in peer-to-peer learning with national and local stakeholders to explore the implications and potential of autonomous vehicles for equitable, sustainable, and safe mobility; accessibility; workforce development and employment; and a range of other issues. In January 2017, the District became a member of the Bloomberg Aspen Initiative on Cities and Autonomous Vehicles, a group of global cities that has produced a set of principles and tools to plan for driverless technologies.

Initial AV Research and Study

The District's AV Working Group developed an AV Principles Statement more specific to the District’s needs. In doing so, it recognized the need for a flexible approach in preparing for AV opportunities and challenges. The principles allow the District to embrace innovation when it benefits residents and visitors, and to highlight the importance of adaptability and learning from governmental peers.

The Working Group also developed an AV Agency Impact Matrix showing which District agencies will be involved in the various components of the District’s AV landscape. For instance, six agencies will be directly involved with AV driver and passenger safety, and another set of agencies will be involved in AV environmental sustainability and impacts. The AV Principles Statement also references the impact matrix.

In April 2020, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) issued a study report on the potential effects that AVs would have on the District. Its findings highlighted the potential for this technology but noted it would result in increased vehicle miles traveled in the District. To mitigate this, the study recommended that the District adopt policies that incentivize shared rides and shifts to alternative modes of transportation.

AV Working Group Recommendations to the Mayor

The recommendations presented to Mayor Bowser in November 2021 offer guidance to the District’s regulatory agencies on how to facilitate AV operations in a way that fosters safety, equity, and sustainability as the industry matures and expands in the District. Key recommendations are that:

AVs being tested can detect and safely interact with pedestrians of all demographics and capabilities in a complex urban environment;
AV testers use the technology to improve access in mobility challenged neighborhoods;
the District should encourage the electrification of AVs vehicles in fleets; and
regulations should prioritize multimodal connectivity and access in the District.

The Mayor has provided DDOT with the funding necessary to establish an AV testing program.

Proposed Rulemaking

DDOT published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the January 28, 2022 D.C. Register. The rulemaking would create an AV Testing Program in the District, establish how an AV manufacturer could apply for a permit to test AVs, and create a testing framework for such vehicles.

AV Working Group Members

The Working Group is comprised of representatives from:

Office of the City Administrator
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Operations and Infrastructure
Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
District Department of Transportation
Office of Planning
Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency
Metropolitan Police Department
Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department
Department of Motor Vehicles
Office of the Chief Technology Officer
Department of Energy and the Environment
Department of General Services
Department of For-Hire Vehicles
Office on Aging
Office of Disability Rights

Members of the public and industry stakeholders also participate.

For more information and access to previous agendas/presentations visit our Gitbook site.

June 2024 Updates

In lieu of a virtual meeting on June 13, 2024, the chair of the AV Working Group emailed out these updates for the AV Working Group. If you have any questions or comments, please email him directly at the email noted below.

Legislation

As you might be aware, the DC Council held a hearing on June 6, 2024 on B25-0710 - Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit Requirement Amendment Act of 2024. This legislation would make permanent previous emergency and temporary legislation that better defines how AV testing can occur in this period before we have the permitting program rulemaking complete. Any company wishing to test on District roadways before the permit is available must have a driver in each vehicle who is ready to take over the driving task and must provide notice and information to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) before testing begins.

Rulemaking

The proposed AV rulemaking is still in the works. We look forward to keeping the public informed when there is more to share.

AV Deployment Report

DDOT has been working to procure consultant support to help the agency define a potential regulatory and legislative framework for the deployment of AVs in a manner that will support the agency’s mission to equitably deliver a safe, sustainable, and reliable multimodal transportation network. That project will include consultation with this group as well as a range of other stakeholders. We look forward to sharing more once the work is underway. DDOT thanks all vendors who submitted proposals to the agency and hopes to have an award completed shortly.

Truck Touch

The Department of Public Works hosted its popular “Truck Touch” event on June 1 and for the first time included autonomous vehicles there. Thanks to Waymo, George Washington University, and Kiwibot for attending and sharing your technologies with everyone in attendance.

Contact information: Andrew Debraggio, DMOI Senior Policy Advisor, [email protected].

To notify the District Department of Transportation of upcoming AV testing, please fill out this form: Notice of AV Testing in in DC.

Upcoming AV Working Group Meetings