Stratford residents may soon see vehicles travelling along city streets without drivers.
Stratford has been selected as the community to demonstrate driverless cars. It's part of the province's initiative to lead the development of connected and automated vehicle technology.
The province announced it is investing $80-million over five years to create the Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Network, in partnership with Ontario Centres of Excellence.
The investment will create sites across the province to develop, test and validate new technology, including a Demonstration Zone in Stratford.
The network will capitalize on the economic potential of vehicles capable of sensing and communicating with their environment and navigating without human input.
This program will help the province’s transportation systems and infrastructure adapt to AV technology.
Stratford Mayor Dan Mathieson is excited by this opportunity.
"Stratford’s unique municipal wide broadband network and reputation for IT and automotive make us ideally suited for these advancements," she says. "I am proud that our investment in information technology infrastructure has been recognized by our province."