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