DC Councilmember Proposes Bill for Self-Driving Rideshare Services in The City

• April 24th

by UrbanTurf Staff

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A DC lawmaker is taking steps to bring autonomous vehicles (AV) to the city's streets.

Councilmember Charles Allen has introduced the Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026, a bill that would open the door to self-driving rideshare services in DC while establishing measures designed to protect residents and workers. The bill comes as AV technology like Waymo has expanded in cities like San Francisco and Phoenix, and as pressure grows on the District to establish a legal and regulatory framework before the industry arrives without one.

The bill would require rideshare companies to provide equal coverage across all DC neighborhoods, including comparable wait times — a direct response to concerns that driverless services could concentrate in high-demand, high-income corridors and leave other parts of the city behind. The legislation also addresses safety and emergency preparedness, clarifying legal liability in the event of crashes or malfunctions and requiring operators to provide first responders with guidance on how to handle incidents involving autonomous vehicles. The companies would face robust data reporting requirements so the District can track impacts on traffic, safety, and employment in the rideshare industry.

The legislation takes a notable swing at transit integration as well. AV operators would be required to collaborate with WMATA on potential discounts for rides connecting to Metro stations, positioning driverless cars as a complement to — rather than a competitor of — the region's public transit system.

To fund these priorities, the bill would charge AV companies a fee based on vehicle miles traveled, splitting that revenue between WMATA and workforce development programs aimed at supporting current rideshare drivers whose livelihoods could be affected by the technology's rise.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dc_councilmember_proposes_bill_for_self-driving_rideshare_services_in_the_c/24558.