Bellevue and Seattle Strategic Plan for Automated Vehicles
The cities of Bellevue and Seattle developed a strategic plan to prepare for automated mobility, which includes a primer on automated vehicles and a list of recommended actions across near-, mid-, and long-term timeframes. The plan’s intended audience includes the general public, federal and state transportation agencies, and the automated vehicle industry. The overview of automated vehicles includes describing a framework for levels of technology/deployment readiness, opportunities and risks of different AV application types (personal vehicles, shared fleet, specialized transit, freight, etc), and an overview of state, local, and federal regulatory roles. The plan then lays out recommended actions to support the following overarching strategies:
- Leverage Strategic Collaborations: Develop attributes for a successful strategic collaboration between the public and private sector using input from both the community and AV industry.
- Ensure Safety: Establish and implement a regulatory and legal framework for the safe testing and commercial operations of AVs on city streets across multiple jurisdictions.
- Shape Innovation: Invest in infrastructure and policy to streamline integration of emerging transportation technology within the region’s transportation network.
- Ensure Transportation Equity: Drive performance goals to ensure equitable distribution of AV benefits and commit to ongoing monitoring of AV impacts.
- Increase Mobility Options: Identify and advocate for communities and user groups that can benefit the most from AVs.
- Enhance Sustainability: Work proactively to shape the future land use and sustainability impacts of AVs.
The document emphasizes the potential for strategic planning to “realize the benefits of AV while ensuring the safety, equity, and other critical transportation goals are met.”