St. Paul approves plan to study rules for self-driving vehicles

The St. Paul City Council has unanimously approved a resolution directing city officials to develop recommendations for regulating autonomous vehicles before companies such as Waymo and Tesla expand commercial driverless services into the city.

Introduced by Council President Rebecca Noecker, the resolution calls for the St. Paul Planning Commission to study the potential impacts of autonomous vehicles, including worker displacement, public safety, accessibility, data privacy and effects on traffic and public transit.

“The future of transportation in Saint Paul should be shaped by the people who live and work here, not handed over to big tech companies and the billionaires that run them,” Noecker, who represents Ward 2, said.

“We need to protect workers, keep our streets safe, and make sure this technology works for our communities. That means setting clear expectations before these companies set up shop, not scrambling to catch up after the fact.”

The proposal follows a debate in Minneapolis over how to regulate robotaxis. The Minneapolis City Council approved an ordinance requiring a human safety operator in the driver's seat of a robotaxi, but Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed the measure, arguing the city should remain open to innovative technology.

St. Paul's resolution calls for input from transportation workers, labor organizations, disability advocates, public safety representatives and other stakeholders. The study also will examine the city's authority to license, monitor and regulate commercial autonomous vehicle operators.

The resolution does not establish new operating rules or ban driverless vehicles. Instead, it seeks to give St. Paul time to develop a regulatory framework before commercial services begin operating in the city, with an emphasis on protecting workers, residents and the public.