The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) announced today that it has been awarded a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. DOT to support a four-year Automated Driving System (ADS) pilot program for three “real-world” demonstration projects.
The program was designed in collaboration with the American Automobile Association of Northern California, Nevada and Utah (AAA NCNU), County Connection, Advanced Mobility Group, and other public and private sector partnerships.
"This important grant is exciting news for Bay Area communities and for American innovation, enabling key initiatives that will pave the way for new mobility options and transportation benefits for underserved communities in our great state," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. "Building on previous autonomous vehicle testing advancements at Contra Costa Transportation Authority, these federal investments for vitally needed data will be critical in developing strong safety performance metrics, which must be at the forefront of autonomous vehicle testing and integration."
CCTA will share data from the three demonstration projects with the U.S. DOT. The projects include: shared autonomous transportation for a Walnut Creek senior community; autonomous vehicle shuttle service with a self-docking wheelchair apparatus for patients at County Hospital in Martinez; and the preparation of the I-680 corridor for future connected autonomous vehicles.
“The ADS program is based on the actual needs and concerns of the community searching for solutions to mobility challenges,” Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Executive Director Randell Iwasaki said in a news release. “We need to integrate advanced technologies, innovative solutions, new partnerships, and creative ideas to support the next generation of mobility."
The ADS program builds on the success of CCTA’s Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Program.
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SOURCE: Contra Costa Transportation Authority
