Sunday, February 23, 2025, 11:01AM |  27°
MENU
Advertisement
Uber launched its self-driving car service in Pittsburgh last fall.
1
MORE

Pittsburgh, Penn State chosen as proving ground for self-driving vehicle technology

Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh, Penn State chosen as proving ground for self-driving vehicle technology

Pittsburgh will work with Penn State University as a federal proving ground for self-driving vehicle technology.

Although the city and university submitted separate proposals to become a National Proving Ground for Automated Vehicle Technologies, the federal Department of Transportation combined the proposals, designating the result as one of 10 proving ground sites nationwide.

“We’re actually pretty excited to be working with Penn State,” Alex Pazuchanics, policy coordinator for Mayor Bill Peduto, said Friday.

Advertisement

Mr. Pazuchanics said it should be a good marriage because the university’s Thomas D. Larson Pennsylvania Transportation Institute has a closed test track in a rural area while Pittsburgh has live testing on streets in an urban setting. The city regularly works with Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh on transportation technology.

“[Penn State has] a complementary program and it’s exciting to work with another great university partner,” he said.

In a news release, Gov. Tom Wolf called the decision a “significant win for Pennsylvania.”

"The City of Pittsburgh already is one of the leading centers for this emerging technology and the new federal designation will ensure continued success,” the governor said.

Advertisement

Mr. Pazuchanics said the collaboration initially is intended to test technological advances and share information among other testing sites and private industry, but there could be funding for specific projects in the future.

The Pittsburgh area has become a leader in transportation technology through smart traffic signals developed at CMU. In addition, the university and Uber are conducting on-road tests of self-driving vehicles.

Other sites selected Thursday as proving grounds were: Texas AV Proving Grounds Partnership; U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland; American Center for Mobility at Willow Run in Michigan; Contra Costa Transportation Authority & GoMentum Station in California; San Diego Association of Governments; Iowa City Area Development Group; University of Wisconsin-Madison; Central Florida Automated Vehicle Partners; and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority.

Ed Blazina: eblazina@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1470.

First Published: January 20, 2017, 8:24 p.m.
Updated: January 21, 2017, 4:08 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
The University of Pittsburgh's Cathedral of Learning
1
business
Amid funding uncertainty, Pitt pauses doctoral admissions
Pirates outfielder DJ Stewart gets congratulations from teammates after his home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the first game of the Grapefruit League season at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
2
sports
5 takeaways from Pirates' spring training victory over Orioles
A new report advises retirees in 2025 to aim for just 3.7% when withdrawing from savings -- down from 4%. Over a 30-year retirement, that could mean the difference between financial security or outliving your cash in your 80s or 90s, financial experts say.
3
business
How much can retirees safely withdraw from their nest eggs? Financial experts weigh in.
York County District Attorney Timothy J. Barker reacts during a news conference regarding the shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pa. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025.
4
news
Police officer killed, gunman dead in shooting at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York
Preston Coleman, 52, was beaten and strangled inside an Aliquippa VFW on Jan. 5, 2025, in what police described as a vicious, unprovoked attack.
5
news
Bartender working at Aliquippa VFW during beating that left man unconscious facing charges
Uber launched its self-driving car service in Pittsburgh last fall.  (Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette)
Steve Mellon/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST local
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story