PennDOT Applies to Make Pennsylvania National ‘Proving Ground’ for Automated Vehicle Technologies

PennDOT Applies to Make Pennsylvania National 'Proving Ground' for
Automated Vehicle Technologies

1/3/2017-HARRISBURG

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recently applied to
a
U.S. Department of Transportation solicitation to be designated as an
Automated
Vehicle Proving Ground Pilot to facilitate the safe and innovative
development
of these technologies.

"This application further illustrates that we're a national leader in
supporting automated vehicle development with safety and flexibility in
mind,"
PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said. "We've put in significant work
on
this issue with our task force, with our partners in the legislature, and
through close collaboration with the industry."

The application outlines the benefits and possibilities for testing within
the
state that already exist and offer an array of environments and topography
under varying degrees of testing. The proposal includes testing facilities:
• in Pittsburgh, building on the city's leadership in development and
testing
for these vehicles and offering an urban environment, connected signals and

multiple bridges and tunnels;
• at Penn State University, which has a closed track where commercial,
transit
and other vehicles can be tested at low speeds and with controlled
incidents;
and
• at the Pocono Raceway, which offers a closed track and is ideal for
testing
higher speeds, multiple connected vehicles (platooning) and other options.

"We're thrilled to be a partner with PennDOT on this application, and
continue
our leadership as a laboratory for innovation that benefits all residents,"

said Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto.

The proposal also underscores Pennsylvania's innovative cooperation among
government, industry and academia by:
• Offering a unique and scalable approach to this technology with the
varied
stakeholders and testing facilities included.
• Highlighting the department's active and ongoing Autonomous Vehicle
Policy
Task Force, which recently issued its recommended guidance to assist with
testing policies, which not only demonstrates investment in this innovative

mission, but also illustrates the collaborative framework necessary to make

testing proving grounds a success.
• Establishing PennDOT as the lead agency on this issue in the state,
aligning
with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Federal Automated

Vehicles Policy (September 2016).
• Including technical and research partners – the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Commission, the University of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Mellon University –
in
addition to the testing partners.

For more information on the task force and to review the guidance for which

public comment is being accepted through January 12, visit www.penndot.gov.


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