National

The Harvard Kennedy School is holding a series of AV policy scrums, intensive daylong sessions that bring together representatives of local governments, regional transit authorities, the private sector, academia and community groups.

Why it matters: State governments have allowed AV pilots, but outdated public infrastructure and ineffective regional government coordination are hindering progress on the AV roadmap. Getting all these parties around one table could help.

Background: For the past 7 years, automakers, technology companies and local and state governments have been working together to implement AV–friendly policies around road testing that address safety concerns.

But, but, but: These conversations have largely left out public transportation, local right-of-way issues, environmental concerns, infrastructure costs and regional coordination.

What's happening: AV policy scrums — modeled on the rugby play — have helped cities like Boston, Kansas City and Toronto define and achieve their goals.

Chris Osgood, Boston's Chief of Streets, has explained that these initiatives allow the city to "work with a wide variety of stakeholders to advance our thinking on the specifics of this policy," especially around shared trips.

New York City and Cambridge, Mass., have recently held their own scrums, and 9 states have established AV policy commissions, working groups or task forces.

California legislators are formulating a set of guiding principles for the state's AV policy, drawing on a series of briefs issued in 2016 by the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies. Their bill aims to to avoid exacerbating pollution and congestion as AVs are deployed.

Be smart: Under President Obama, the Department of Energy invested in regional clean cities efforts, bringing together 32 states to plan for electric vehicle deployment. Setting priorities for AV policy will likely require similar collaboration among private businesses, city and state authorities and residents.

Colleen Quinn is a transportation and energy policy adviser and president of EMobility Advisors.

Cities and states are developing AV policy in collaborative "scrums"

Poor regional coordination has hindered AV progress.

silhouette of a car filled with mocked-up legislation drafts

Transportation

Policy

Expert Voices

The Harvard Kennedy School is holding a series of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AV policy scrums," data-vars-click-url="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/taubman/programs-research/autonomous-vehicles-policy-initiative/policy-scrum" data-vars-content-id="9bf3086b-72e2-4d3b-ab99-164a1472cc8a" data-vars-headline="Cities and states are developing AV policy in collaborative &quot;scrums&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/centers/taubman/programs-research/autonomous-vehicles-policy-initiative/policy-scrum" target="_blank">AV policy scrums,</a> intensive daylong sessions that bring together representatives of local governments, regional transit authorities, the private sector, academia and community groups.Why it matters: State governments have allowed AV pilots, but outdated public infrastructure and ineffective regional government coordination are hindering progress on the AV roadmap. Getting all these parties around one table could help.

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Technology

State governors, and not the federal government, are emerging as the leaders on vehicle electrification and automated vehicle deployments.

Why it matters: With the flexibility to experiment with infrastructure solutions and policy frameworks, states often serve as incubators for tech innovations. The governors who enable AV programs may well ensure that the U.S. remains a leader in the AV space.

What's happening: California's leadership on EVs provides a valuable model, dating back to requirements for zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) it rolled out in the 1990s. 

In 2018, Jerry Brown signed an executive order calling for $2.5 billion in EV–related investments, and convened the Global Climate Action Summit to secure commitments based on the Paris climate goals. 

California’s EVs alone accounted for 46.8% of U.S. sales in 2018, and 10 other states have now adopted the ZEV mandate, which requires that a percentage of vehicles produced for sale in that state be ZEVs.

On the AV front, 20 states currently allow testing or deploying of autonomous vehicles, and a decision in Utah is pending. 

Massachusetts established its Commission on the Future of Transportation in early 2018 to plan for changing demographics, climate disruption, and increased electrification and automation.

Rhode Island and Ohio have taken steps to integrate AVs into holistic solutions to state infrastructure challenges, like creating transportation equity and reducing congestion. 

Between the lines: Governors are eager to be seen as champions of technologies that could accelerate productivity and improve quality of life. If their states are seen as early adopters, it could help to attract entrepreneurs and talented members of the workforce and academia.

Yes, but: Being out front can have risks as well. After the Uber fatality in Arizona, both the governor and the state are facing a $10 million claim for "fail[ing] to make roadways safe" by allowing AV testing.

The bottom line: If governors continue to make their states friendly to AV development, it will lead to an overall favorable environment in the U.S. for developing the technology. 

Colleen Quinn is a policy adviser and president of EMobility Advisors. She served on the Massachusetts Commission on the Future of Transportation, appointed by Governor Charles Baker. 

Governors are taking the lead on electric and autonomous vehicles

State-level pilot programs for AVs could help the U.S. keep its edge.

Animated GIF of electric car as a lightning bolt

Governors

Energy

State governors, and not the federal government, are emerging as the leaders on vehicle electrification and automated vehicle deployments.Why it matters: With the flexibility to experiment with infrastructure solutions and policy frameworks, states often serve as incubators for tech innovations. The governors who enable AV programs may well ensure that the U.S. remains a leader in the AV space.

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

Colleen Quinn

Stories

Cities and states are developing AV policy in collaborative "scrums"

Governors are taking the lead on electric and autonomous vehicles