According to Atlanta Magazine, a self-driving car will hit the streets of Atlanta on September 14, just a few months after Georgia Governor Nathan Deal approved a law that allows self-driving cars on public streets. 

The car, which is a part of a joint pilot project by Georgia Tech, City Hall and others, will drive itself from the campus of Georgia Tech to the Ponce City Market. It will follow the rules of the road and avoid obstacles during its journey using a combination of technologies, including a network of sensors, transmitters, Wi-Fi hotspots, and GPS receivers, to name a few.

John Orr, manager of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s transportation access group, says that it is important for Atlanta to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to this technology.

“Transportation technology, which has developed rapidly, will transform the Atlanta region not just in terms of planning but of policy,” Orr says.

“It’s of critical importance that Atlanta gets out in front of this situation and not get left behind.”

Among many areas of potential impact, Ellen Dunham-Jones, a professor at Tech’s School of Architecture, says that this technology could be especially beneficial for public transit. Smaller buses that come more frequently than larger buses could potentially replace those larger buses, or, passengers could potentially “summon transit on demand” through this technology.

Driverless shuttles could also reduce the need for parking lots that take up a large portion of the real estate in dense areas like Buckhead, Midtown, and downtown, since there would be less reason for every Atlanta resident to own a vehicle of their own anymore.

Overall, the benefits of this technology could be wide ranging in Atlanta, making everyone’s life a little easier.

“Instead of being dominated by traffic noise and congestion, Atlanta’s streets could be more pleasant, with more room for bikes and wider sidewalks,” Dunham-Jones says.