Late 2017 is the projected launch for two driverless shuttles to be operated by the Tampa transit system, otherwise known as HART for Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority. They will go up and down Marion Street. The Florida Department of Transportation has thrown in some dollars, thus putting its money where its mouth is in terms of support for pushing the state to the head of the pack. I would say almost to the head of the pack because no one is leaving California or Michigan anytime soon.
Florida's competition
Florida is taking a different approach than California and Michigan, with the former open to testing on streets and the latter, the original motor state, investing in test tracks and development. Also, despite the expense and other irritations of life in California, Silicon Valley engineers and venture capitalists seem to like living and working there.
What Florida does have are politicians that are quite pro-driverless and many, many residents who are older adults - ones who presumably want to retain their independence well beyond the time when they should relinquish the car keys.
In terms of second-tier driverless states, Arizona is close to Florida with Google still planning its testing facility promised to Chandler, AZ. The facility plans were announced in August.
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