01557809

Component

This paper examines how Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are preparing for self- driving vehicles. In just a few short years, the prospect of commercially available self-driving cars and trucks has gone from a futurist fantasy to a likely near-term reality. However, only two MPOs in the 25 largest metropolitan areas mention autonomous or connected vehicles in their long-range regional transportation plans, despite potentially transformative impacts within the minimum long-range planning horizon. In interviews with representatives of 15 of these organizations, regional planners described uncertainty about the impact and timing of new automotive technologies and the disconnect between potential future impacts and current investment decisions as the principal reasons that self-driving cars did not make it into plans. Timing also played a role. Planners are more likely to discuss self-driving cars, as one of a number of potentially transformative technological and social changes, in their next regional plans. Nevertheless, most interviewees described one or more planning-related activities, such as focus groups or meetings with experts, transportation models, and scenario plans, through which they discuss and study the potential implications of self-driving cars. Interviewees also frequently attend and organize local and national meetings and conferences that feature driverless cars. As more information becomes available about the likely timing and impacts of self-driving cars, regional planners reported that they are likely to respond by slightly reducing investments in highway expansion and shifting a greater share of their budgets from capital expenditures to operations and maintenance.

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADA20 Metropolitan Policy, Planning, and Processes.

01550057

15-4167

English

14p

2015

Transportation Research Board 94th Annual Meeting

Digital/other

References; Tables

Budgeting; Intelligent vehicles; Metropolitan areas; Metropolitan planning organizations; Regional transportation; Transportation planning

Data and Information Technology; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Vehicles and Equipment; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I90: Vehicles

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2015 Paper #15-4167

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Dec 30 2014 1:21PM