A California-based tech company is partnering with local authorities in the region to bring the self-driving vehicle service to area residents.
The city of Frisco in the North Texas region is reportedly set to get the nation’s first self-driving car service.
The service will first be accessible in July for roughly 10,000 employees working in a cluster of corporate offices located less than a mile away from The Star, a retail and dining area that also serves as headquarters for the Dallas Cowboys. The service will also be free for the first six months.
The California-based Drive.ai, which is part of a public-private partnership with the city of Frisco and the Denton County Transportation Authority, among others, is handling all costs involved in the project. The first round of trips will have a human present in the driver’s seat, and self-driving cars will eventually be allowed to transport passengers on their own, with remote assistance ready to help if needed.
Frisco and the city of Plano, which are both part of Collin County, have become major job hubs in recent years for the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Last year, Texas was one of 10 states approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation to let companies pilot automated technology in vehicles. The city of Arlington is already running a trial program for autonomous shuttles.
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Source:Â The Texas Tribune
