Mayor Walsh signs executive order on autonomous vehicles

BOSTON - Thursday, October 20, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today signed an executive order on autonomous vehicles, "Autonomous Vehicles in the City of Boston," establishing that the Boston Transportation Commissioner, Gina N. Fiandaca, will lead oversight of autonomous vehicles in the City of Boston, and the Boston Transportation Department (BTD), with support from the Mayor's Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM), will develop guidelines for the testing of autonomous vehicles in the City of Boston. 

In addition, BTD, with support from MONUM, will publish policy recommendations with respect to autonomous vehicle technology, business models and street regulation and design. Those policy recommendations will be designed to advance Boston's equity and sustainability goals, putting a strong preference on models which are operated as shared and electric fleets that complement mass transit, walking and bicycling.

"Autonomous vehicles have the incredible promise to deliver safer streets and a more reliable, equitable and sustainable transportation system, but that will only occur with the right technology and right policies in place," said Mayor Walsh.  "For that reason, Boston is ready to lead the charge on self-driving vehicles, supporting the development of the technology and policies that ensure this innovation will benefit all of our residents."