Texas to be testing ground for automated vehicles

AUSTIN – The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has named Texas a national Automated Vehicle (AV) Proving Ground for the testing of connected and automated vehicle technologies.

The designation establishes Texas as a leader in the research and development of new transportation technologies that could make roads safer and less congested.

The Lone Star State was one of ten regions selected from an applicant pool of more than 60. It offers a unique statewide capability, starting with existing controlled environments on research campuses such as Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, and the Southwest Research Institute campus in San Antonio.

Texas’ additional testing environments are available in several municipal and regional areas, and include unique settings such as barrier-separated lanes, medical districts, transit bus corridors, and border crossings. These varied and unique test sites will help USDOT develop guidelines for automated vehicle technologies.