Self-driving cars green-lit for tests on Seaport roads, rotary, overpasses

Self-driving cars have been given the green light to traverse well-trafficked roads in the Seaport and Fort Point areas of South Boston, according to a letter sent by the city last night. NuTonomy, which has driven more than 230 miles on public roads in Boston since the beginning of the year, will be allowed to drive its autonomous vehicles as far south as West First Street and to cross the Fort Point Channel to Dorchester Avenue. The company asked for and was granted approval to expand by Boston officials, under the terms of a testing agreement signed last year. "For autonomous vehicles to be able to deliver on the crash-reduction and network efficiency promises, we know that testing must gradually increase in complexity, while still maintaining safety as our paramount focus," Boston Transportation Commissioner Gina Fiandaca wrote in the approval letter. NuTonomy previously had been restricted to the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park, a relatively quiet industrial and business area with no stoplights.