Pilot project purgatory? Assessing automated vehicle pilot projects in U.S. cities

This paper assesses Automated Vehicle (AV) pilot projects in U.S. cities to understand their effectiveness in evaluating AV risks and benefits, city integration of AVs into policy and planning, and the lessons learned. Through interviews and document analysis, the study reveals significant differences in city approaches, often lacking coherent policy goals. Key findings highlight a disconnect between pilot project goals and city transportation goals, a lack of long-term AV vision, an overemphasis on non-transportation benefits, limited policy learning and iteration, and a failure to leverage pilot projects for public benefit. The paper concludes that current AV pilot projects offer limited value for informing transportation policy and planning, potentially constraining planners' ability to rethink transportation systems in the face of rapid technological change.

Devon McAslan, Farah Najar Arevalo, David A. King, Thaddeus R. Miller