“Autonomous vehicles have enormous potential to help cities improve traffic safety, relieve congestion, and improve transportation mobility for seniors, people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups,” Mayor Sam Liccardo said in a statement. “Through this initiative, and our broader Smart City Vision, we’ll explore pilot projects that will provide us a deep, data-driven look at how autonomous vehicles might serve as a solution to our city’s transportation needs and improve our residents’ quality of life.”

More than a dozen traditional automakers and tech companies testing the AV waters have expressed initial interest in the city’s plans during roundtable discussions, among them Lyft, Ford and GM. Other goals of San José’s AV pilots are creating a more equitable transit network, boosting livability and walkability, and increasing data-based transportation decisions.