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
Emerging Technologies Discussion Forum
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Leadership Team
Stuart Kearns
Lexington Area MPO
Stuart graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a B.A. in Geography in 1990 and an MPA in 1997. He worked for the Lexington Area MPO from 1991-2001 as a transportation planner, then as a consultant until 2004. From 2004 to 2017, he served as Associate Director of Transportation for the University of Kentucky. In 2018, he returned to the Lexington Area MPO as a senior transportation planner.
Lori Clark
North Central Texas Council of Governments
Lori Pampell Clark joined the Transportation Department of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) in July 2005. She oversees various programs and policies to improve air quality by reducing pollution from the transportation sector. She also serves as Coordinator of the Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition, the local chapter of a Department of Energy program focused on increasing energy efficiency in the transportation sector. Her team focuses on expanding use of clean vehicles and alternative fuels, with increasing focus on zero-tailpipe-emissions technology. Their work also includes energy efficiency and renewable energy, which will become increasingly important as transportation electrifies.
Derrick Harris
Tri-Lakes MPO
Worked in both transportation planning and urban planning. Three different MPO’s in two different states. Currently an MPO Director in Arkansas. Passionate about electric vehicles, trails, multimodal, complete streets, and land use as it relates to transportation. Personally interested in technology, coding, web design, cinematography. Currently exploring how both passions can be interwoven to provide better service to the citizens.
Committee Liaisons
Jacob Riger
Denver Regional Council of Governments
Technical Committee
Jacob Riger is the multimodal transportation planning manager for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). Jacob develops and maintains DRCOG’s Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan, which identifies the major multimodal transportation projects, programs, and services to be provided over the next 20+ years for the Denver region. Jacob’s team is also responsible for DRCOG’s transit, safety, freight, and transportation performance management planning activities. He has 25 years of public agency and private sector transportation planning expertise across the country.
Mark Reichert
Florida MPO
Policy Committee
Mark started his transportation journey with the Florida Department of Transportation in 1991, moving over to the Florida Transportation Commission in 1995. He worked at the FTC for 21 years, the last 10 as its Assistant Director. In 2016 he became the Administrator for Metropolitan Planning in FDOT’s Office of Policy Planning, retiring in April of 2021. After a short stint in retirement, he was appointed as the Executive Director of the Florida Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council (MPOAC). He received his Bachelor’s degree in Government and Master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida State University.
FHWA Liaison
Jeremy Raw
Jeremy Raw, P.E., is a Community Planner in the FHWA Office of Planning where he coordinates research and deployment of data collection and analysis techniques and modeling for transportation planning, as well as planning applications for national data sets. His work areas include data collection, analysis and modeling for bicycle and pedestrian transportation; planning for connected and automated vehicles; scenario planning; and developing strategic planning models. Jeremy holds degrees in philosophy, literature, engineering, and city planning. jeremy.raw@dot.gov
AMPO Contact
Caitlin Cook: ccook@ampo.org