Emerging Technologies Working Group

RESOURCES & RESEARCH MEETINGS & WEBINARS

Mission

In 2017, AMPO mobilized a working group to serve as a focal point for metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to engage with the U.S. Department of Transportation on vehicle connectivity and automation.

While the pace of deployment for vehicle connectivity and automation is uncertain, eventual deployment sometime in the near future is inevitable. Therefore, it is essential for those agencies responsible for planning, constructing, maintaining, operating, and funding the transportation system, including MPOs, State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs), transit agencies, local governments, and toll facility owners and operators to be engaged in discussing the timing and implications of this new technology for the planning process, system performance, and investment decisions. To facilitate the deployment of this technology, which could have profound effects on our landscape and mobility, new roles and responsibilities are being defined and new and/or modified planning tools and analytic techniques are under development. New technical, institutional, and policy issues associated with deployment of vehicle connectivity and automation will continue to emerge as deployment moves from test beds to general use applications.

A mechanism for MPO engagement, communications, outreach, and capacity building to monitor and support the US DOT’s vehicle connectivity and automation programs could add substantial value to their vehicle connectivity and automation outreach and deployment initiatives. Awareness of guidance, issues, and deployment status will benefit state, metropolitan and local transportation planning agencies with responsibility for planning and delivering federal-aid transportation programs and projects. A roadmap could help define the current and desired state of the practice, identify knowledge gaps in responding to infrastructure needs and leveraging system performance, safety and environmental benefits, and recommended steps and actions for incorporating vehicle connectivity and automation into projects and the performance-based planning and programming process.

Goals

Provide a mechanism to build technical, institutional, and policy capacity of MPOs and their partner state and local agencies to leverage the benefits of deployment of vehicle connectivity and automation to the performance based planning and programming process.
Address knowledge gaps and provide a forum for MPOs with their partner state and local agencies engaged in transportation planning to educate and expand awareness of the nature and status of vehicle connectivity and automation deployment, current and emerging technical planning issues, and institutional and policy challenges.
Support the U. S. DOT outreach and engagement by providing a mechanism for support and provide feedback on planning-related guidance, research, and training and technical assistance needs associated with deployment of vehicle connectivity and automation

Leadership Team

Tom Bamonte, North Central Texas Council of Governments
Eric Hill, Metroplan Orlando
FHWA Liaison: Jeremy Raw: jeremy.raw@dot.gov

AMPO Contacts

Caitlin Cook: ccook@ampo.org
Sarah Hicks: shicks@ampo.org

Resources & Research

White Papers

National Symposium and Peer Exchange:
The products and materials developed by the work group, including the white papers, were presented at a national symposium and peer exchange on regional vehicle connectivity and automation planning hosted by AMPO.

White Papers:
AMPO prepared four white papers on vehicle connectivity and automation based on the working group meetings and recommendations from the USDOT and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs), and other transportation agencies

Contra Costa Transportation Authority and its partners lead a collaborative effort GoMentum Station, “the nation’s largest secure testing facility for autonomous and connected vehicle technology.” http://gomentumstation.net/about/
Florida DOT’s (FDOT) Automated Vehicles Initiative is “helping to create the framework for implementation by engaging stakeholders, developing research and pilot projects, and creating awareness of the technologies and how they support FDOT’s vision statement.” http://www.automatedfl.com/
Miami-Dade MPO’s Connected-Automated Vehicle Program and Task Force is “working alongside its transportation partners to plan for this new technology with upgraded roadways, transit systems, and freight facilities that will move our community into the future.” http://miamidadempo.org/connected-autonomous-vehicle-program.asp
Michigan DOT’s Connected Vehicles Program includes a working group, Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) Applications, Connected Vehicle Infrastructure Investments, Data Management, research, its Mobility Transformation Center, and a Safety Pilot Model Deployment with the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT). http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9621_11041_38217—,00.html
Pennsylvania DOT’s CV/AV 2040 Vision. http://www.dot7.state.pa.us/BPR_PDF_FILES/Documents/Research/Complete%20Projects/Planning/CMU%20WO%20001%20-%20Connected%20and%20Autonomous%20Vehicles%202040%20Vision%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf
Nevada DOT is developing an Automated and Connected Vehicle Policy Framework. https://www.ch2m.com/newsroom/news/ch2m-working-nevada-department-transportation-develop-autonomous-and-connected
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG): The San Diego region has been designated as one of the USDOT’s proving grounds for autonomous vehicles. http://www.sandag.org/index.asp?newsid=937&fuseaction=news.detail
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments held half-day conference on CV/AV: Reimagining Transportation: Transforming Southeast Michigan

U.S. DOT

Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) webpage: www.its.dot.gov/v2i
Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program https://www.its.dot.gov/pilots/
Connected Vehicle Test Beds https://www.its.dot.gov/factsheets/connected_vehicle_testbed_factsheet.htm
Connected Vehicle Reference Implementation Architecture (CVRIA) http://local.iteris.com/cvria/
USDOT/NHSTA Automated Vehicle Policy Guidance (NHTSA 2016-0091) https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automated-vehicles#federal-policy-overview
NHTSA Automated Vehicles webpage https://www.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automated-vehicles
NHTSA 2016-0126: Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) Communication Technology Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 1/12/2017 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/01/12/2016-31059/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-v2v-communications
NHTSA 2016-0040: NHTSA Enforcement Guidance Bulletin 2016-02 on Safety-Related Defects and Automated Safety Technologies Final Notice 9/23/2016 https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/09/23/2016-23010/nhtsa-enforcement-guidance-bulletin-2016-02-safety-related-defects-and-automated-safety-technologies

Other Agencies

American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) Automated Vehicles Information Sharing Group, Automated Vehicle Working Group, and Automated Vehicle Information Library. http://www.aamva.org/Autonomous-Vehicle-Information-Library/
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Autonomous Vehicle Policy Workshops, CV/AV Executive Leadership Team, Subcommitee on Transportation System Management and Operations (STSMO) CV/AV Working Group, CV/AV Research Roadmap and related tasks, CV Field Infrastructure Near Term Analysis Tool, and CV Field Infrastructure Footprint Analysis. http://systemoperations.transportation.org/
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) autonomous vehicle legislative information and database. http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/autonomous-vehicles-selfdriving-vehicles-enacted-legislation.aspx
National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) Vehicle to Infrastructure Deployment Coalition (V2I DC) and Preparing for Connected/Automated Vehicles Webinar http://www.transportationops.org/V2I/V2I-overview and http://transportationops.org/event/metropolitan-planning-organizations-preparing-connectedautonomous-vehicles
RAND Corporation’s Automated Vehicle Technology: A Guide for Policymakers. http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR443-2.html
SAE International Standard J3016: Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to On-Road Motor Vehicle Automated Driving Systems identifies six levels of driving automation and has been adopted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the USDOT’s Policy on Automated Vehicles. http://www.sae.org/servlets/pressRoom?OBJECT_TYPE=PressReleases&PAGE=showRelease&RELEASE_ID=2715
Transportation Research Board (TRB)
- NCHRP 20-24(98): CV/AV Research Roadmap and NCHRP 20-102: Impacts of Connected Vehicles and Automated Vehicles on State and Local Transportation Agencies. http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=3752
- NCHRP Legal Research Digest 69: A look at the Legal Environment for Driverless Vehicles. http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/173557.aspx
- Regional Transportation Systems Management and Operations (RTSMO) Committee (AHB10) Subcommittee on Connected and Automated Vehicles. https://sites.google.com/site/trbrtsmocommittee/subcommittees/connected-autonomous-vehicles
- Automated and Connected Vehicles University Transportation Center Spotlight Conference November 4-5, 2015. http://www.cvent.com/events/connected-andautomated-vehicles-the-9th-university-transportation-centers-spotlightconference/event-summary-72903771f52f4a1688240effb810be90.aspx
Uniform Law Commission (ULC) draft model legislation for self-driving vehicles and Study Committee on State Regulation of Driverless Cars http://www.uniformlaws.org/NewsDetail.aspx?title=New%20ULC%20Study%20and%20Drafting%20Committees%20will%20be%20Appointed
Victoria Transportation Policy Institute (VTPI) Autonomous Vehicle Implementation Predictions: Implications for Transport Planning. http://vtpi.org/avip.pdf

University Affiliated

Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) CV/AV test beds, CV/AV physical infrastructure projects and transportation applications, commercial truck platooning demonstration project, policy research and planning studies. https://tti.tamu.edu/research/connected-transportation/ and http://d2dtl5nnlpfr0r.cloudfront.net/tti.tamu.edu/documents/161504-1.pdf
University of Maryland Center for Advanced Transportation Technology Laboratory (CATT Lab) Automated Small Vehicle Transportation Research. ttp://www.catt.umd.edu/research
University of Virginia Center for Transportation Studies Connected Vehicle/Infrastructure University Transportation Center (CVI UTC) Consortium and Connected Vehicle Pooled Fund. http://www.cvi-utc.org/ and http://www.cts.virginia.edu/cvpfs/

Private

Google: The Waymo self-driving technology company evolved from Google’s self-driving car. The project began in 2009 with the Toyota Prius. In 2012, the Lexus RX450h was added and in 2014, they designed a prototype vehicle, which began testing on public roads in 2015. https://waymo.com
INRIX’s Automated Vehicle Study identifies the top U.S. cities for shared highly autonomous vehicle (HAV) deployment, discusses how cities can leverage data to plan for HAVs, and discusses the data analysis needed to help public sector stakeholders strategically bring this technology to market. http://www2.inrix.com/2017-autonomous-vehicle-study
Tesla: “All Tesla vehicles produced in…[their] factory, including Model 3, have the hardware needed for full self-driving capability.” https://www.tesla.com/autopilot
Toyota Research Institute (TRI) Autonomous Vehicle Research Centers have partnerships with Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Michigan MCity. http://aicenter.stanford.edu/, http://toyota.csail.mit.edu/, and http://www.engin.umich.edu/college/about/news/stories/2016/august/accelerate-artificial-intelligence-research

In The News

Consumer Reports Self-Driving Cars: Driving Into the Future http://www.consumerreports.org/autonomous-driving/self-driving-cars-driving-into-the-future/
Wired: We Take a Ride in the Self-Driving Uber Now Roaming Pittsburgh https://www.wired.com/2016/09/self-driving-autonomous-uber-pittsburgh/

Meetings & Webinars

Work Group Meetings:
The working group held four meetings, which culminated in a national symposium. The meetings focused on MPOs, but included MPO partners, such as State DOTs and industry. The objective of these meetings was to develop a framework to increase awareness among MPOs, State DOTs, and local transportation agencies of transportation planning-related vehicle connectivity and automation issues, opportunities and challenges, and implications for the transportation planning process. The meetings provided the USDOT with a mechanism for outreach on vehicle connectivity and automation planning-related guidance, and program and policy initiatives. The meetings provided an opportunity for MPOs to discuss and identify the necessary training, information, and tools for deployment and implementation. In addition, they allowed participants to build technical capacity, identify the state of practice, and develop effective practices.

Webinar, April 25, 2019
AMPO held a webinar on April 25, 2019 to share its National Framework for Regional Vehicle Connectivity and Automation Planning. Below is a recording of the webinar as well as the webinar presentation slides.

This document is intended to provide a framework (Framework) as MPOs incorporate vehicle connectivity and automation into their metropolitan transportation planning process and work to guide its deployment to help meet regional transportation needs and goals. As advancements in technology are occurring at a fast pace, the Framework will be a working document that provides an initial step to exploring the many factors that will shape deployment. The Framework’s recommendations focus on the aspects of vehicle connectivity and automation that are within the responsibility of MPOs and the scope of the metropolitan planning process. To view the framework, click here.

Work Group Meeting #1: April 4-5, 2017
The Working Group held its first meeting from April 4-5, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. The group was hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington’s College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs. This meeting identified current policy, practice, and activities at MPOs, challenges and needs, opportunities, and next steps.

Read-ahead Packet from Meeting #1 – Compilation of existing/ongoing CV/AV efforts at various government agencies, institutions, and private industry.

Presentations from Meeting #1

Working Group Meeting #2: July 31 – Aug 1, 2017
The Working Group held its second meeting from July 31 – August 1, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio in coordination with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official’s (AASHTO) Conference on Performance‐Based Transportation Planning, Financing, and Management. The meeting focused on the opportunities and challenges of navigating regulatory concerns in vehicle connectivity and automation development and implementation, partnership opportunities between State DOTs and MPOs, and the risks associated with deployment and implementation.

Whitepaper #2

For more information on the AASHTO Conference on Performance‐Based Transportation Planning, Financing, and Management click here.

Working Group Meeting #3: November 13-14, 2017
The Working Group held its third meeting from November 13-14, 2017 in Washington, DC. The meeting included AMPO’s federal partners in the United States Department of Transportation and United States Environmental Protection Agency along with a diverse group of AMPO’s peer agencies. The objective of the meeting was to identify the roles, responsibilities, relationships, and opportunities for collaboration.

Whitepaper #3

Working Group Meeting #4: March 5-7, 2018
The Working Group held its fourth and final meeting from March 5-7, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The meeting discussed the relationship between MPOs, States, and Federal agencies and the private sector and establishing effective partnerships and coordination practices among them.

Working Group Peer Exchange/Symposium: November 14-15, 2018
The Working Group held a Peer Exchange/Symposium from November 14-15, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss the draft National Framework for Regional Connected and Automated Vehicles Planning developed by the working group. Additional materials for this meeting will be added by early 2019. The group was also able to participate in a demo of EasyMile’s 61AV Driverless Shuttle.