Connecticut is moving closer to testing self-driving buses. The state Department of Transportation has applied for a $9 million federal grant to run three of the buses on the CTfastrak busway between Hartford and New Britain.
Reporter Sean Teehan, who has covered autonomous buses for the Hartford Business Journal, says state officials believe the busway offers the ideal controlled environment for the tests because of limited stops on the busway.
There would also be an operator on board.
“On the busway they wouldn’t be touching the controls. Obviously they would be able to take control if something, an issue, arose. And then there is a loop where it goes off the track through downtown Hartford. During that time they will be controlling it.”
Connecticut's public transit administrator says if the feds approve the funding, the buses could be on the road in early 2020.
Meanwhile, police say the driver of a Tesla blames his car’s autopilot system for a collision with a police cruiser and a disabled vehicle on the Connecticut Turnpike in Norwalk on Saturday morning.
The driver says he was using the car's autopilot while he checked on his dog.
No one was seriously injured. Police issued the driver a misdemeanor summons for reckless driving and reckless endangerment.
