WASHINGTON, D.C. — The District Department of Transportation is seeking vendor proposals for a new Autonomous Vehicle Observation Zone Challenge aimed at studying how driverless vehicles move through busy District streets.
DDOT said the pilot will test sensing technology that can identify autonomous vehicles and compare their behavior with baseline data from human-driven vehicles. The agency says the work is meant to help planners better understand interactions with pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and other motorists before autonomous systems become more common in city traffic.
The initial observation sites are planned for two intersections: 4th and M streets SW and New Jersey Avenue and M Street SE. DDOT said proposed systems cannot rely on in-vehicle transponders or license plate reading, and applicants must explain how quickly their tools can adapt to new behaviors identified during the pilot.
The project is funded through the DDOT Research Program and is being conducted with the Southwest Business Improvement District, US Ignite, George Washington University and the University of Washington. DDOT said companies, startups, universities, research organizations and nonprofits are eligible to participate.
Applications are due July 16 at 5 p.m. Eastern time. DDOT expects to announce the winning applicant in August, with pilot deployment planned for early 2027.
The Washington Herald
editorial@thewashingtonherald.com
Washington, D.C.
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