Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for Why not DC? Unlocking Autonomous Vehicles in the District. The energy and enthusiasm in the room made for exactly the kind of honest, grounded dialogue that we set out to create.
We heard first-hand from local leaders about how AVs would help the District deliver on safer streets, accessible mobility, well-paying jobs, and the revitalization of the local economy.
This event came at a pivotal time: Days later, the Washington Business Journal reported that the DC Council plans to review AV legislation before the end of April – and this conversation is exactly the one DC leaders need to have right now.
We wanted to share some of the moments that stuck with us, plus a few actions you can take to help unlock the benefits of AVs for all residents of the District.
On mobility and dignity
Reverend Thomas Bowen captured something about AVs that data alone can't:
“It's not only about mobility — it’s about access to mobility, and access to dignity.”
Reverend Bowen and Mayor Williams both reflected on years of being passed by taxis and rideshare drivers based on their appearance.
“I can’t help but think of years ago, when DC had the zoned taxis… and even when I would go to New York, I'd be passed up by taxis.
Why should I have to put on a suit to get a taxi?
That is something that cannot be overlooked. It's about the dignity that people are afforded, and the fact that people should be viewed as the same.”
Mayor Williams agreed: “People would blatantly, openly refuse to give me a ride, give the Reverend a ride. And Waymo – it can't do that. And that's good, that’s a social good.”
On DC's moment of opportunity
Former DC Mayor Anthony Williams didn't mince words about what's at stake for DC's economy, following federal workforce reductions and the ongoing consolidation of federal facilities:
“Right now, if you compare it to a military base closing, this would be the largest base closing in history.”
“So we have to face this as a city: how do we deal with this epochal event to diversify and regenerate our economy? This is precisely the time when we're trying to regenerate our economy with more technology investment.”
On expanding access to job opportunities
Tiffany Moore emphasized that Waymo has already mapped every road and every ward in preparation to serve DC, and stated an algorithmically-dispatched vehicle does not – and cannot – discriminate.
“Another thing when we talk about dignity: a lot of shift workers commute late nights and early mornings, when you may not be able to get a transit ride or traditional rideshare. The fact that Waymo is operating 24/7 means that if you're coming off shift work at 2 or 3 a.m., you've got a reliable and safe ride.”
Reverend Bowen put the issue of mobility access and job opportunities plainly, stating: "No one should be without employment because they couldn't get a ride to an interview."
On investing in DC’s economy
Tiffany offered some much-needed perspective on AVs and the workforce.
“There's an entire human infrastructure around our driverless vehicles — and those are local jobs for our workforce. When we think about investment, there are tens of millions of dollars of investment that would come with us having multiple depots in the District of Columbia to serve the citizens of the District.”
Mayor Williams spoke to the value of welcoming AV companies that will diversify and invest in DC’s economy.
“That's creating long-term, good-paying, family-supporting jobs — and that should not be overlooked. That's very, very important. And, intrinsically, Waymo as an operation needs people for capital maintenance, for the technology aspects, for the strategic and operational dimensions of maintaining a Waymo fleet in DC — all of these are the kind of jobs that we want to have in a recovering, resilient economy.”
On the District’s opportunity to lead
Washington, DC was among the first cities in America to consider AV policy — back in 2012, alongside California and Nevada. More than a decade later, DC still doesn't have a framework that allows AVs to operate here.
Tiffany was direct about Waymo's readiness: "We're ready to deploy. We would hope we wouldn't have to wait that long to be operational in the District." She added that Waymo will continue working with Mayor Bowser's administration and the next administration to make it happen.
DC has a real opportunity to be the first capital city in the world to achieve citywide deployment of autonomous vehicles – but that won’t happen unless local leaders take action.
On Moving DC Forward
Panelists encouraged residents to reach out to their Councilmembers, Mayor Bowser’s administration, and ANCs – and also to communicate the benefits of AVs on social media.
“We can't say, ‘Well, we're not going to have Waymo and there's no cost to this,’ because there actually is a cost to the city.
Get [DC leaders] to understand the equity issues and the economic benefits — this is good for our community in a number of different ways. It's not zero-sum . . . and not a free choice.”
Get Involved
After the event, many of you asked how you can get involved. With the DC Council preparing to take up AV legislation, now is the moment to make your voice heard. Here are a few quick actions:
Please take 2 minutes to complete our Call to Action Survey.
Tell your council member that you want AVs in DC, and share why you want to see legislation move forward this spring. Find your council member →
Forward this conversation to a neighbor, a colleague, or anyone who should be part of this coalition.
Thank you again to Station DC for hosting us and to Waymo for making this event possible.
All the best,
Greg Rogers