The Toronto Region Board of Trade is committed to technological expansion on the 407 ETR, which is operated by Cintra, to become the first highway with autonomous and conventional traffic in North America.
The 407 ETR’s designation as a highway for self-driving vehicles would position the Toronto area as a world leader in autonomous driving. The report published by the Toronto Region Board of Trade: “Getting Ready for Autonomy: AVs for Safe, Clean and Inclusive Mobility in the Toronto Region” looks at the strengths that will enable Toronto to roll out the “AV Highway of the Americas” successfully.
The report shows an infrastructure connected to vehicles to maximize road safety, with one lane exclusively for self-driving cars. The “AV Highway of the Americas” would set the region ahead of any other city in North America.
“Research has shown that the adoption and acceleration of autonomous vehicles would lead to economic, environmental, and social benefits for the Toronto region. (...) Creating an autonomous future is essential to our economy. This will ensure that the region ranks at the forefront of the most innovative cities and continues to generate new opportunities for investment and growth for our residents.”
Some of the key points from the report include:
- People: Companies and the Government of Ontario must provide pathways for workers to develop new tech skills regarding autonomous vehicles.
- Regulation: Along with governments and insurers, privacy policies must arrange for a legal framework of support for sharing reliable data on autonomous technology.
- Management: Municipalities must designate a single point of contact for interaction with the industry in order to provide a simple, navigable system.
- Infrastructure: Existing assets should be leveraged to improve the transition to adopting technology for autonomous vehicles.
Access the full report here.
