AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY
Pittsburgh’s Shared + Autonomous Mobility Principles:
- By supporting cities and street design that prioritizes people and human safety.
- By enhancing access and connectivity for all residents across both city and region.
- By ensuring equitable service across geography, socio-economic groups, and time.
- By protecting public mobility and mass transit as the most accountable, transparent and sustainable mobility option.
- By promoting shared, higher occupancy vehicles for people and freight.
- By promoting and enabling land development patterns that locate everyday destinations and needs in close physical proximity to people.
- By integrating mobility systems for seamless travel and access.
- By increasing open and shared data while protecting civil liberties and individual system security.
- By pursuing fair user fees to provide sustainable resources for the maintenance of the public infrastructure on which services operate.
- By empowering stakeholders with the tools, resources, and opportunities to meaningfully participate in shaping public policy.
Autonomous technology has the potential to assist the City is achieving these principles. However, this technology is still in the development, testing, and piloting phases. While there are many potential benefits of autonomous technology, including improved safety and accessibility, there are also potential consequences, including sprawl and congestion. Pittsburgh is working to shape the development of autonomous technology and policy to achieve our mobility goals and avoid unintended consequences. In order to do this, we are allowing certain entities to test autonomous vehicles and operate personal delivery devices on our streets and sidewalks.
Autonomous Vehicles
An autonomous vehicle is a vehicle that is capable of sensing its environment and moving safely with little or no human input. In Pittsburgh, all AV Testers are testing Level 4 autonomous driving systems as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), which means that the vehicle is capable of performing all driving functions under certain conditions.
Autonomous Vehicle Testing Authorization
To begin testing in the City of Pittsburgh, a company must:
- Complete a Notice of Testing application with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
- Receive an Authorization Letter from PennDOT, indicating that the company has been approved to test in Allegheny County
- Submit company and testing information to the City of Pittsburgh Department of Mobility and Infrastructure
- Receive an Authorization Letter from DOMI to begin testing in Pittsburgh.
Current Autonomous Vehicle Testers
Personal Delivery Devices (PDDs)
Under state law, a personal delivery device means a ground delivery device that is manufactured for transporting cargo or goods; is operated by a driving system that allows remote or autonomous operation, or both; and weighs less than 550 pounds without cargo. These devices may operate on sidewalks, shoulders, and bicycle lanes.
Personal Delivery Device Authorization
In order to operate a personal delivery device in the City of Pittsburgh, a company must submit an application to PennDOT and receive authorization.
State law gives PennDOT the authority to authorize a personal delivery device provider to operate in the state.
Current Personal Delivery Device Operators
DOMI is launching a 6-month pilot program with PDD operator Kiwibot in Bloomfield. The pilot is intended to provide city staff and residents experience with personal delivery devices (PDDs) in order to create informed local policies before the widespread deployment of PDDs.
Future Partners
The City is interested in exploring partnerships and shared research agendas in the following areas:
- Vehicle technology focused on Pittsburgh’s unique environment
- Experimenting with connected transportation infrastructure
- Research and engagement with the public on autonomous mobility and workforce implications
- Research and experimenting with how autonomous technology could fill Pittsburgh’s transportation gaps or supplement our existing transportation network
Questions, comments, or concerns regarding an autonomous vehicle operating in Pittsburgh?
Have questions about autonomous vehicle testing in Pittsburgh? Is your company interested in testing? Contact us at av@pittsburghpa.gov.
