Experts anticipate that within a decade or two, autonomous vehicles may well make up the majority of cars and trucks on the roads. How can the Washington region ensure that autonomous vehicles have a positive effect on safety, congestion, pollution, and sprawl instead of a negative one?

DCST has been convening experts from government, advocacy, and industry with business groups and other stakeholders to study the likely impacts of AVs on our region and make recommendations for public policy on issues such as safety, land use, sharing, testing, and more.

From the Blog

    • Here’s what DCST thinks about DC’s top transportation priorities

      By David Alpert     March 27th, 2019

      For the last two years, Greater Greater Washington has managed DC Sustainable Transportation, a coalition of business, advocacy, and government entities who work together on shared priorities for transportation. At the DC Council's recent transportation oversight hearing, David Alpert had an opportunity to outline key transportation priorities.

    • DCST issues RFP for a study of autonomous vehicles’ impact on DC

      By     August 29th, 2018

      How will autonomous vehicles affect the District of Columbia and the Washington region? The 2019 DC budget funds "a study which evaluates and makes recommendations around the impact of autonomous vehicles (AVs) on the District," which DCST is coordinating in partnership with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).

    • To make ride-hailing work for urbanism, here’s what needs to happen

      By David Alpert     June 25th, 2018

      Ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft, and Via have grown meteorically since launching just a few years ago. Meanwhile, transit ridership nationwide is declining, and some studies posit a direct connection. As a result, many transit supporters have sharply criticized these services. Some fears are warranted, but ride-hailing is also offering people a valuable transportation service.

    • To cut down on traffic, DC may encourage sharing Ubers, Lyfts, and Vias

      By David Alpert     May 10th, 2018

      Ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft, and Via are growing rapidly. They are actually two kinds of service: private cars and shared, with shared cars much better for traffic, sustainability, and roadway efficiency. Now, the DC Council has taken a positive step to encourage sharing, relative to riding alone, in the tax code.

    • Have senators? Ask them to let cities and states shape how autonomous vehicles affect us all

      By David Alpert     October 3rd, 2017

      Congress is poised to take away many of the potential tools cities and states could use to shape the way automatic vehicles affect our transportation networks. Please ask your senators (if you have some) to give this issue more study and deliberation.