Construction on PennSTART, a testing track for autonomous vehicle companies and emergency responders to hone their services, began on Monday.

Don Smith, president of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation, called the track “a very tangible, durable asset” that will keep companies here and help them grow, but also act as a magnet for others to the region.

“PennSTART is the kind of catalytic asset our region needs to compete with other regions to attract businesses and jobs,” Mr. Smith said. “There is national demand for projects like PennSTART, which will leverage our existing assets in autonomous technologies, research universities, energy, workforce, and central location.”

He described the track’s shape as a “bent carabiner.” Its two-plus-mile loop will allow vehicles to reach

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