Computer driven cars are a thing of the present

The future promises many things, but sometimes it doesn't follow through.

Robert Zemeckis promised us all hoverboards by 2015 with his 1989 movie hit "Back to the Future II." But, alas, there are none. In fact, flying cars have long been promised before Marty McFly eluded Biff on such an anti-gravity devise. Flying cars are no closer to reality, but the notion of automated transportation is certainly in the realm of possibility.

The Capital District Transportation Committee discussed the very topic two weeks ago, on the heels of its released draft of the CDTC New Visions 2040 report. The committee is tasked with projecting the future transportation needs of the Capital District. Those projections, said CDTC Executive Director Michael Francini, directly impact funding for yet to be proposed capital projects. At nearly 130-pages thick, the report covers the full gambit of transportation options, from pedestrian and bicycle, to community transit, and the infrastructure it all utilizes.

One avenue approached by the committee may initially be perceived as a tip of the hat to science fiction fans.

Scott LeVine presented at the committee's most recent monthly meeting two weeks ago. LeVine is respected as an international expert on automated transportation. He is an assistant professor in urban planning for SUNY New Paltz.

Cars that drive themselves conjure images of Tom Cruise in "Minority Report," but the notion is far from far-fetched. The technology, to a large extent, is already being utilized.

"It's a question of time when we talk about automated driving cars on our roadways," said Francini, who cited a handful of car manufacturers that incorporate advanced technology that takes some tasks, such as checking a driver's blind spot or parallel parking, out of the hands of the driver. "It's just a question as to when it all goes into one vehicle.

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