Sunny Small Cities Lining Up to Go Driverless

Maybe it is something about sunshine combined with beaches, but the two states with municipalities actively planning for and eager to embrace driverless vehicles ASAP are in California and Florida. 

Chula Vista, California

Next door to San Diego, Chula Vista unsuccessfully applied for the $50 million DOT Smart Cities grant. But Chula Vista is taking advantage of the effort to envision itself as a smart city, including plans for the preliminary effort to test driverless vehicles in the city in HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) and bus-only lanes. 

This long video explains the efforts ongoing in the San Diego region.

Beverly Hills, California 

Beverly Hills is the first city to proclaim that it is planning for first mile/last mile driverless transit to connect residents to rail transit and to connect older adults and people with disabilities to activities and services in the community. 

Babcock Ranch, Florida

Right now, this "town" is on the drawing board and ground is just being shoveled to begin building what is a small city the size of Manhattan. Part of the plan agreed to with environmental groups is a sustainable, walkable town with energy efficient housing and business infrastructure, including a plan for driverless transportation, and maintaining an actual ranch and wildlife areas.