WASHINGTON — District transportation officials are resisting pressure to fast-track regulations that would allow autonomous robots to deliver food on city sidewalks, citing safety concerns despite pleas from tech companies eager to launch the service.

At a Wednesday hearing of the Committee on Transportation and the Environment, representatives from two robotics companies pushed the D.C. Department of Transportation to approve regulations for zero-emission delivery robots. The autonomous units would navigate sidewalks to bring food orders to customers throughout the city.

But DDOT Director Sharon Kershbaum said the agency needs more time to develop rules governing the new technology.

“We’re not dragging our feet. We know people want us to move more quickly. But there are no rules that

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