Autonomous Seattle: The Robot Car in the Emerald City

The initial rollout of autonomous vehicles (AV) is predicted to begin around 2025, gaining public acceptance by 2030 & largely replacing non-autonomous vehicles by 2040-2045.Many tout the AV as a silver bullet, allowing drastic reductions in car ownership and parking, electric vehicle fleets, “working commutes,” and so on. But an AV is more accurately described as a “disruptor” rather than a “silver bullet,” potentially increasing both sprawl and traffic, and eviscerating mass transit use.We must shape our cities, regions, and policies to guide the use of AVs in a sustainable manner to minimize—among other things—the developmental sprawl they could enable. What are policymakers doing to prepare for and shape the impacts of AVs in our region? Read more