‘Big step forward’: DC councilmember lays out plan for self-driving taxis

A D.C. Council member introduced legislation detailing specifics of how self-driving taxis would work once they’re allowed in the District.

“It’s a big deal; it’s a big step forward,” Councilmember Charles Allen said.

Allen, who chairs the Transportation and Environment Committee, just put legislation on the table spelling out the specifics of how the so-called “robotaxis” would operate.

“What problems do I want it to solve? I’ll give you one in this legislation. For example, if you live in Ward 7 or 8 and you call a ride hailing service, right now — 50/50 shot it’s showing up and you’ll probably have a lot longer wait times even when it does come,” Allen said. “We’ve crafted this legislation so that autonomous vehicle operators have to — have to — keep equity in mind and ensure that the balancing of your wait times are the same whether you’re in Congress Heights or whether you’re in Shaw or upper Northwest.”

He also said self-driving taxis can’t clog up our streets, so they would have to pay a vehicle-miles-traveled fee to ensure they aren’t just endlessly roaming the District.

Discounts likely would be offered for trips that connect with transit like Metro.

The D.C. Department of Transportation just released its own report identifying challenges that remain, like clear federal safety standards for these vehicles, and public trust.

Waymo, Google’s self-driving taxis that are testing in D.C., sent News4 a statement saying, “Waymo is ready to serve Washingtonians and help make the District’s roads safer for everyone. We appreciate Councilmember Allen’s work to restart this important conversation. We look forward to a collaborative process with the Council to ensure the final framework allows the District to take full advantage of the opportunities our service provides.”

The first hearing on operationalizing autonomous vehicles in the District is expected in the summer with a full Council vote coming in the fall.