Why DC’s Metro Wants to Automate its Trains
Driverless transit is increasingly common globally, but the plan to remove human operators from Washington, DC’s Red Line trains would be a US first.
A Red Line Metro train arrives at the Judiciary Square metro stop in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, May 30, 2025.
Photographer: Al Drago/BloombergLike several US cities, the District of Columbia is currently debating the future of self-driving cars: On April 23, city councilmember Charles Allen unveiled a bill that would codify rules for robotaxi service from companies like Waymo and Zoox, both of which have launched pilot deployments. DC looks to follow in the footsteps of places like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Austin, where autonomous vehicles have already become common sights on streets (and highways).
But the bigger local news in driverless transportation might be underground.