NATCO releases city policy, design steps for autonomous vehicles

The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) announced the release of the Blueprint for Autonomous Urbanism, a street design document that envisions future cities built with autonomous vehicles in mind.

A steering committee from NACTO’s 61 member cities and transit agencies developed the blueprint, which outlines policy and design steps for cities to improve safety, prioritize people and public space, strengthen mass transit, and manage curb space for automated vehicles. The document was funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The Blueprint for Autonomous Urbanism is a series and will expand and adapt as transportation technologies emerge and evolve. The first blueprint module centers on pedestrian and cyclist safety, fixed-route mass transit, and curbside management.

Future modules of the Blueprint will address roadway pricing, data partnerships with the private sector, regional planning, designing autonomous networks, and autonomous freight delivery needs.