It may be difficult to fully predict how autonomous driving technology will actually be utilized, but the reality is that it will be utilized. It’s getting closer every year. There are really no “it would work but we are missing technology X” aspect. The tech is there, now it’s just about rolling it out incrementally and safely and taking advantage of refinements as it goes.
When you are talking about a capital project with a projected 40-50 year lifespan, and the largest single change to transportation since the car itself is in the early stages of being figured out, you don’t go all in on what could be (not will be, but could be) a declining use transportation option that will be the single largest project in the City’s history. I’d rather see safe increments steps. Adopt more of an agile mindset and build and refine as you go.
A dedicated BRT right of way could still utilize autonomous vehicles and technologies if they become prevalent and be adapted for change without committing us to LRT. Once track goes down, you are committed to trains and only trains. Maybe in the future trains really are the best option and the emergence of autonomous vehicles that can drop people at hub stations will make the centre Street lrt make sense without the huge disruption and pressure on existing traffic. Adding trains, taking away lanes, and spending what LRT will cost with all this going on behind the scenes globally is just insane.
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