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Vancouver and Surrey have applied for federal funding to create two new transportation "corridors" for driverless cars.

The idea, which the municipalities are referring to as a “collision-free corridors,” would quickly make Metro Vancouver something of a testing ground for autonomous vehicles. The region would join a small number of jurisdictions where driverless cars are already allowed (with restrictions), such as California and Nevada.

The funding application was submitted to Infrastructure Canada in response to the federal government’s “Smart Cities Challenge”. If selected, Vancouver and Surrey will receive $50 million from Ottawa that would be put toward creating “two collision-free corridors using autonomous vehicles and smart technologies for multi-modal transportation”.

According to a City of Vancouver media release, the proposed plan would benefit the environment and improve road safety.

“If chosen as the winning submission, both cities would demonstrate the path to safer, healthier and more connected communities while reducing emissions, improving transportation efficiency and enhancing livability in the face of rapid growth and traffic congestion,” the release reads.

Vancouver and Surrey began working together on last January. Their application was submitted today (April 24). The federal government is scheduled to announce funding recipients this summer.

Meanwhile, B.C. still does not allow Uber.