Although infrastructure investors don’t commit capital to carmakers, they do invest in the roads and bridges these vehicles use, and with the advent of autonomous cars and trucks, it behooves them to understand how these innovations will use transportation infrastructure. “… it is clear that this technology is quickly becoming a reality on our roads and highways,” notes Driverless future: a policy roadmap for city leaders by Arcadis, HR&A Advisors and engineering firm Sam Schwartz. “The introduction of the autonomous vehicle and its synergy with ridesourcing services such as Uber, Lyft, Via, Chariot and others, will force cities to confront a host of uncertainties on issues ranging from safety, ethics, insurance, and regulatory requirements to technological necessity, pricing and the scale of widespread adoption.”
Cities will be faced with decisions about infrastructure, urban mobility, land use and social equity, the report continues. “AV technology will disrupt existing transportation systems and has the potential to significantly reduce car ownership in our cities.”