The Mid America Association of Transportation Officials (MAASTO) recently hosted a virtual conference focusing on connected and automated vehicle technology (CAV).
The 2020 CAV Summit conducted Oct. 22 and 23 served as a planning springboard to address varied challenges, providing members an opportunity to review and react to the draft CAV work plan developed by the CAV Subcommittee and approved by the MAASTO board last month.
“When we hear ‘automated vehicles,’ we tend to think about the self-driving cars of the future,” Craig Thompson, MAASTO president and Wisconsin Secretary of Transportation, said. “But CAV technology is here today, and it’s going to have a major impact on the way we move people and goods.”
Agenda items included developing model legislation and regulations to ensure consistent regulation of CAV technology across state lines, cooperating on research and development with academic and industry researchers, and establishing regional policy recommendations to ensure CAV vehicles are safe for other motorists and pedestrians.
“The Midwest has proven to be a leader in innovation, and this summit is a great opportunity for states to collaborate and plan for the future,” Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kelliher said. “Minnesota is proud to chair the MAASTO CAV Committee and help demonstrate how regions can effectively partner on research and corridor planning. This is especially important because the Midwest is the central hub of transportation for the entire country.”