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AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
Do cities have the appropriate procurement policies in place to purchase the technology needed to support AV deployment ?
Cities should assess their current procurement policies , and look specifically at whether these policies might inadvertently erect any roadblocks to purchasing the technology and smart infrastructure necessary to support AV deployment . There is an inextricable linkage between technology and city operations , and there has been a rapid advancement of technology over the past decade that has left many city governments without a clear procurement path for incorporating new technology into cities in a transparent manner . Cities should ensure that the parameters around which kinds of proposals they can accept and who they can offer contracts to do not prohibit them from working with the new technology companies that provide the infrastructure and platforms to support AV technology . There are many new innovative contracting models being used by public agencies seeking to promote more collaborative procurements , 16 while respecting the needed transparency when public dollars are being used on a project . This is an area where both the private and public sector should continue to collaborate .
MUNICIPAL COORDINATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH
How can cities craft a unified autonomous vehicle policy , plan for the coexistence of existing transportation infrastructure and AVs , and coordinate between city departments ?
Cities first need to assess existing laws and municipal codes that will impact any deployment of AV technology . With technology like AVs , cities need to get the right people to the table , which includes urban planners , public works , information technology , procurement policy , and law enforcement . Modifications to existing codes may be appropriate , or cities may have to think about the development of a new autonomous vehicles or smart infrastructure code .
In order to maximize resources for such coordination , working with regional agencies can provide real benefits . While coordination between city departments and regional entities is still in its infancy in most municipalities , the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning
Organization has taken the lead in developing a comprehensive long term plan for AV technology in the Boston area . 17 The Boston MPO is building off a partnership between the city of Boston and the World Economic Forum which began testing autonomous vehicles on Boston city streets . This collaboration , as well as working with state manufacturers and the state DOT , will enable the MPO to consider all stakeholders while building a unified vision for a mixed transportation network in the near future .
How should cities approach gauging public acceptance of these technologies ?
The introduction of autonomous Uber cars in cities like Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania and Tempe , Arizona has received mixed reactions from the public . Cities should engage in an open dialogue between all their residents and respond to varying levels of acceptance of this technology . This outreach should not be a oneoff prior to introduction of AVs , but ongoing as new concerns emerge . While many warn of patchwork regulation of AVs , there should also be concern about technophobic sentiment and hostility toward this technology should the public not fully understand the benefits of AV technology and how such vehicles will be operated safely within communities .
How can cities help inform the greater public outreach that NHTSA has envisioned ?
As NHTSA releases its next version of the Federal AV Policy , it is expected that it will hold another period of public comment as well as ongoing stakeholder engagement as these guidelines are transformed into regulatory laws . 18 Cities should monitor the many federal developments around AVs , including future hearings of the DOT Committee on Automation , which is co- chaired by Mayor Garcetti of Los Angeles , and includes Mayor Cornett of Oklahoma City as a member . 19 Cities should continue to stay informed and engaged by reaching out to their state and federal partners on this issue , even after future public comment periods have concluded . In this way , cities empower their residents as stakeholders with ongoing input into the regulatory regime designed at the national level and ensure important issues such as local control over the right-of-way is preserved and future infrastructure funding for cities is addressed . Cities are a critical component to the safe , effective , and efficient deployment of AVs .
GOVLINK ยป ISSUE 2 2017