The U.S. lags far behind on using driverless trains, but new projects could open the floodgates
U.S. cities like Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles are exploring the automation of mass transit systems to improve efficiency and reduce labor costs. While the U.S. currently lags behind global counterparts in automated rail, new projects aim to modernize infrastructure despite technical and financial hurdles.
Why it matters
Automation of public transit represents a significant shift in urban infrastructure policy and labor management in the United States.
Even as automated vehicles such as robotaxis grow more prevalent in the U.S., almost every mass transit system still requires a driver or operator on board. Two major cities are seeking to change that.
Officials in Washington, D.C., recently advanced a plan that could let computers fully control one of its subways, and Los Angeles is seeking to build a new, completely automated line. Honolulu already has one.
The Washington and LA projects, which would take years to implement and still face financial and technical hurdles, come amid an already fierce debate over the safety risks and benefits of automated trains and whether the substantial upfront expense is worth the long-term savings in labor costs.
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