DC and Los Angeles Advance Driverless Train Plans

Transit officials in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles are advancing plans to implement fully automated, driverless train systems to modernize mass transit and reduce labor costs. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is pursuing a nearly $1 billion upgrade for its Red Line, with driverless operations potentially beginning by 2033. Simultaneously, Los Angeles is conducting an environmental review for a new automated heavy-rail line beneath the Santa Monica Mountains.

These efforts join Honolulu, which already operates the Skyline automated light metro. Proponents, including the Reason Foundation, argue that automation increases safety by removing human error and brings U.S. transit in line with international standards in Europe and Asia. Baruch Feigenbaum of the Reason Foundation criticized the slow pace of domestic progress, stating, "I don’t know a nice way to say this, but basically the transit world is where innovation goes to die."

Opposition comes from labor unions, including the Transport Workers Union, which warns that driverless systems are a "catastrophe waiting to happen." Critics specifically cite the risks of passenger self-evacuations during emergencies and potential job losses. The push for automation in Washington, D.C., was previously paralyzed for years following a fatal 2009 crash at the Fort Totten station, though current leadership maintains that modern systems are highly regulated and proficient.