Safety, trust, and transit: The roadmap for AV integration

With nearly 40,000 annual deaths on U.S. roads and human choice and error being a key cause of crashes, the promise of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has never been more critical. AVs do not drive drunk or distracted and they have the potential to transform how we move. 2025 has brought a flurry of activity from AV “robo-taxi” companies like Waymo and Zoox, and these technological advancements present important questions, especially for public transportation. 

A few long-term questions to consider are: 

• When will AVs be cost-competitive?
• Will AVs simply add more single-passenger vehicles to our already clogged streets?
• Will the public trust the technology enough to get on board?

First, let’s look at where AV passenger service stands today. Waymo continues to expand, notably by tackling freeway driving—a high-stakes environment requiring faster reaction times—and by launching in numerous new markets. Meanwhile, Zoox has entered commercial service in Las Vegas and San Francisco, marking a major milestone with its purpose-built, fully autonomous robotaxi. Also, Uber and Lyft continue to integrate AVs onto their rideshare platforms.

For the transit enthusiasts reading this, the big question is: how will AVs impact transit service? And why, for example, is Waymo partnering with Via to bring AVs into public transit in Chandler, AZ?

Shared AVs integrated within broader transit systems can help solve challenges faced by transit agencies, including providing effective first and last mile connections and filling transit gaps in areas underserved by public transit whether that’s in urban or rural areas. 

We have already seen promising AV transit pilots in larger cities like Arlington, TX, and more rural ones like Grand Rapids, MN. May Mobility continues to advance transit projects and others like Beep are launching new deployments on college campuses, airports, and as part of public transit services.

As I shared at the Urban Autonomy Summit last month, it is critical that AVs are integrated into existing transit systems. AV rides must be shared rides connected to the broader transit system. Without this focus, we risk a future where robotaxis compete with public transit, pulling riders away and increasing congestion on our roads. Do riders actually want to share? The answer is yes—if the experience is right. With efficient algorithms and well-designed services, we consistently see transit users embracing shared rides.

So, what’s next for AVs? Despite tremendous technological strides, it remains to be seen if AVs can fully deliver on their potential for safety and efficiency. Realizing this vision requires close collaboration between industry and regulators. Together, they should prioritize educating riders and gaining public trust, while ensuring that deployment strategies actively reduce congestion and expand mobility for people who cannot drive or access transit. 

To achieve full integration within transit systems, four things must happen:

1. Technological Maturation: Developers must continue to master complex weather and edge cases while prioritizing safety above all else. Crucially, they should design service models that prioritize shared trips over single-occupancy rides.
2. Regulatory Environment: AV companies currently navigate a patchwork of state and local laws. Congress should establish a federal safety framework that protects public safety while giving innovators the clarity they need to scale, while also supporting agencies that want to deploy AVs in public transit.
3. Solving the Accessibility Gap: Most AV companies today rely on retrofitted vehicles rather than purpose-built designs, leaving many models inaccessible to wheelchair users. Removing the driver also creates a specific challenge for riders who rely on human assistance for boarding or wheelchair securement. The industry must develop new hardware and operational service models (for example, the ability for riders with mobility challenges to request a vehicle with an attendant) to fill this gap), ensuring that automation does not come at the cost of inclusion.
4. Economic Viability: As the technology advances, bringing down cost becomes critical to wide-scale adoption. To scale beyond small pilots, vehicle and operational costs must come down significantly, ensuring that AVs are a financially sustainable option for public transit agencies rather than just premium private services.

The full societal impact of AVs remains uncertain, and we are likely years away from a reality where they can handle every weather condition or geographic scenario. However, the progress toward a safe, accessible solution that integrates with public transit is undeniable. As the industry matures, three critical areas warrant close attention: maintaining safety standards at scale, building public trust, and ensuring accessibility remains a core design and operational priority.