Autonomous vehicles (AVs) may still feel like science fiction, but they are already rolling along streets across the country in real time. Policies regulating AVs are being shaped with immediate feedback, placing urban design at a critical juncture. The conversations focus not only on the technology driving AVs but center on the built environment with which they interact.
It is not unrealistic to expect that in the not-too-distant future AVs could actually replace all other automobiles on the road. There are numerous and clear benefits, and AVs are bound to be even more transformational to the way we live, interact with our cities, and travel than the arrival of the first automobiles were in the early days of the 20th century. Glimpse into the future, while realizing the challenges in store for families, communities, voters, policymakers, engineers, and more.
First and foremost, AVs promise unprecedented safety. Onboard computers and sensors will be able to communicate seamlessly with each other, taking driver judgment out of the equation and all but eliminating certain vehicle-to-vehicle crashes. Beyond safety, AVs will streamline traffic flows, reducing congestion and making surface level traffic faster. City limits will likely extend as commutes are halved and become productive rather than drudgery.
The shift to AVs will fundamentally alter the built environment, raising new questions and opportunities for the ways streets, parking, and public spaces are designed. With optimized traffic flow and reduced collisions, traditional intersections and traffic signals may become obsolete. Far less space will be needed for public parking, allowing cities to reimagine how they use their curbs real estate. Transit systems will also need to adapt – whether through dedicated AV lanes or more ways to integrate with other modes of transport.
As AVs redefine urban movement, cities must carefully balance efficiency with accessibility, ensuring equitable street design rather than repeating the inefficiencies or errors of car-centric development. Other smart infrastructure, like real-time traffic sensors, automated charging stations, and AI-driven navigation systems will play equally important roles in this revolution, however it is paramount that the human element remains central to the conversation.
A key aspect of this vision relies on AVs being the only vehicles on the road. As long as unpredictable human error is involved, the full benefit will never be realized. However, roads are not solely owned by vehicles. Even if all human-operated cars are removed, the human element will always remain and need to be accounted for. Whether pedestrians navigating crosswalks, cyclists maneuvering alongside vehicles, or passengers entering and exiting transit hubs, AVs must interact with unpredictable human behavior.
The transition cannot assume human-driven systems will disappear; rather, it must grapple with a parallel ecosystem where AI-driven mobility and human agency coexist. AVs pose not only a challenge in software but also for our built environment. City planners have their work cut out for them figuring out how to adapt our existing infrastructure to accommodate new modes of transportation and travel patterns. It is important that city planners and engineers have a seat at the table along side the technologists.
The last half century of highway expansion can give us some context as to what is at stake. As cars became more common, people began to prioritize owning their own vehicles over all other forms of transportation. Most urban cores were hollowed out and are still grappling with ramifications of infrastructure of these decisions and trying to balance the need for rapid thoroughfare and livable cities.
Such policy choices fundamentally reshaped cities, pushing pedestrians to the margins. A full reimagination of our infrastructure solely for AVs benefit could be just as drastic. It’s important that we don’t make the same kind of knee-jerk decisions based on the promises of autonomous vehicles – decisions that could compromise or limit future urban planning options. If AVs advance without concurrent infrastructure adjustments, cities risk repeating this cycle, prioritizing a new form of mobility without ensuring inclusive transportation.
The conversation is ongoing. Policymakers cannot afford to wait for AVs to dictate transportation design; they must anticipate the systemic effects now. Otherwise, we may look back decades from today and lament a failure to ask the right questions. At the same time we must balance innovation with thoughtful planning to ensure that today’s decisions leave room for flexibility, equity, and long-term sustainability in our urban environments.
Written by Aaron Shavel, Public Policy Fellow
The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) is an independent, national research and educational organization working to advance innovation across industry and public policy. The only nationwide public policy think tank dedicated to infrastructure, Aii explores the intersection of economics, law, and public policy in the areas of climate, damage prevention, eminent domain, energy, infrastructure, innovation, technology, and transportation.