Researchers Ensuring Safety for AV Pilot Deployment in DC

In honor of the nation’s 250^th Anniversary, the U.S. Department of Transportation plans to deploy self-driving shuttle services in Washington DC this summer. As a precursor to the public launch, in January, the US DOT arranged for federal and local government and transportation officials to take test rides in an autonomous shuttle along a two-mile stretch between Navy Yard and Union Station in Washington DC. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University’s Safety21, a USDOT National University Transportation Center (UTC), were an integral part of this pilot deployment to validate and ensure safety during testing and operations.

The Carnegie Mellon team, led by Raj Rajkumar, the director of Safety21 and professor of electrical and computer engineering, collaborated with US DOT and Beep, Inc., an autonomous mobility company, on a pilot program for autonomous public shuttles. During the DC test rides, the researchers gathered data from the vehicle’s sensors. CMU analyses and recommendations are helping inform how the shuttle bus will navigate safely and make intelligent, real-time decisions in a variety of traffic situations.

The shuttle demonstrations coincided with the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting, which was held on January 11–15, 2026 in the District of Columbia. Thousands of transportation professionals, including policymakers, convened at TRB to discuss advances in all modes of transportation. The deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs), transportation corridors for AVs, and infrastructural support for AVs were emphasized.

During the TRB meeting, in a panel discussion, titled the “US DOT Innovation Agenda,” US DOT leaders underscored the Trump administration’s priorities to advance the safety and American leadership in automated vehicles, among other technologies.

These priorities align with the goals and mission of CMU’s Safety21. Focusing on autonomous vehicle safety and connected infrastructure, the center addresses challenges by collaborating with government, industry, and community groups on research, development, and deployment (R&D&D) projects.

Rajkumar is glad that Safety21’s collaborative model has been recognized nationally for its success in driving innovation and economic impact, while addressing real-world transportation problems.

The test rides in DC provided local and national officials, including Seval Oz, US DOT senior advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology at US DOT, the opportunity to experience first-hand in the nation’s capital a new mode of public transportation that’s emerging across the country.

While the deployment of robotaxis and AV shuttles is dialing up in some cities, AV deployment across the U.S. is sporadic for a variety of reasons including safety concerns, non-uniform regulations, deployment costs, scaling considerations, mapping needs, and environmental challenges like weather conditions.

During the DC test rides, the shuttle drove autonomously for most of its runs; however (as required by DC law) a safety driver with a commercial driver’s license was always behind the steering wheel ready to take over if necessary.

“Since pioneering autonomous vehicle technology in 1984, CMU has helped shape the trajectory of this highly impactful field,” says Rajkumar. “The deployment of this AV shuttle reflects the next chapter in that legacy—moving innovation from research to real-world operation in ways that inform national policy and deployment. By serving as a proving ground for safe, scalable systems, we’re helping ensure the United States remains the global leader in autonomous mobility.”

Soon after the AV shuttle deployment, The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released a Sources Sought notice seeking industry input on a potential AV shuttle demonstration in Washington, DC The proposed demonstration would align with events commemorating America’s 250^th Anniversary in July.