Shared Automated Vehicle Toolkit: Policies and Planning Considerations for Implementation (2022)

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88 The convergence of trends in shared mobility—the commodification of transportation, digital information and fare payment, electrification, and connected and automated vehicles—is changing consumer preferences and travel behavior. As the transportation network automates, a variety of public- and private-sector stakeholders will need to be involved in the transition. These stake- holders may need to adapt their roles in response to vehicle automation. Some of these changes include (1) developing standards to evaluate AV performance by public agencies or other organi- zations, (2) incorporating emerging transportation modes into plans, and (3) providing resources for the testing and evaluation of emerging modes. These organizational changes may better pre- pare stakeholders for the transitional phases in which MOD and AVs may be implemented in the future. However, each transitional phase needs a unique organizational readiness strategy given the differences across the country in public-sector roles, which are often defined by institutional charters and enabling legislation. Moving forward, MPOs and RTPOs can play an important role in convening diverse regional stakeholders to better prepare for MOD and SAVs. Public- private partnerships could also help stakeholders leverage resources, funding sources, and expert knowledge. The Built Environment and Public Rights-of-Way While MOD and AVs are often discussed in the context of urban mobility, there are many possible use cases for each to serve other built environments, such as the suburbs and rural communities. Understanding how MOD and AVs impact and are impacted by the built envi- ronment can help communities plan for these innovations and leverage policy tools, such as zoning and the allocation of public rights-of-way, to maximize societal benefits across different types of built environments. One of the most notable policy levers states and local communities possess is the regulation and management of public rights-of-way. Parking reduction policies resulting from AV operations, infill zoning, and parking redevelopment (e.g., housing) could help support the transition to AVs and provide access to more affordable housing. Because auto- oriented land uses (e.g., motels, restaurants) could become obsolete or need reimagining given vehicle automation, proactive planning and economic development policies will be needed as the transportation sector transitions toward AVs. Vehicle automation could allow for the repurposing of the roadway in several ways, such as • Repurposing on-street parking and dedicated turn lanes for other uses and modes (e.g., pro- tected bikeshared micromobility users); • Supporting the use of shared rides through passenger loading zones and HOV lanes; • Dedicating curbspace for shared micromobility parking; • Reducing the number of traffic lanes; C H A P T E R 1 3 Conclusion

Conclusion 89   • Implementing flexible loading zones; and • Reclassifying vehicle lanes based on occupancy (e.g., ZOVs, SOVs, and HOVs), vehicle purpose (e.g., goods delivery vehicles), and operational characteristics (e.g., human-driven and HAVs). Multimodal Integration A variety of factors can support the multimodal use of MOD and AVs. The integration of MOD, AVs, and public transportation can help to create a network effect that can support shared, active, and higher-occupancy modes. Multimodal integration can be achieved through (1) physical integration (i.e., the co-location of mobility services), (2) information integration (e.g., trip planning apps and multimodal aggregators), and (3) integrated fare payment across modes. In addition to multimodal integration, AVs will need to be supported through a network of robust electric charging infrastructures, such as quick charging stations, strong electricity grids, and alternative power sources (e.g., backup generators in case of power outages). These infrastructure elements will likely need to be disbursed throughout regions (e.g., in rural areas, along highways, multiunit dwellings) to allow AVs to complete longer trips or operate in diverse regions. Labor and Social Equity Impacts The impacts of MOD and vehicle automation raise a number of concerns, primarily around labor and social equity, among others. For instance, MOD and AVs may impact the workforce by changing traditional labor roles in a number of ways. These changes may include the develop- ment of new industries and employment opportunities; however, these changes may also reduce current jobs and require retraining of existing workers or new skillsets entirely. A variety of public- and private-sector stakeholders may be able to proactively address these challenges by identifying the risks AVs present to existing jobs and fostering workforce development and job placement programs. MOD and AVs also can impact social equity. MOD and SAVs could increase equitable access of the transportation network (e.g., increasing access to jobs, healthy food, health care, and education). However, MOD and AVs could increase disparities by increasing challenges or excluding some populations (e.g., underbanked households, older adults, disadvantaged com- munities). Social equity is impacted by a lack of affordable housing that pushes lower-income households into more suburban or rural locations leading to spatial mismatch (i.e., the discrep- ancy between where low-income households reside and suitable job opportunities are located). Understanding and addressing these considerations are key to improving transportation equity and justice in the United States. Strategies for Advancing the Public Good A number of strategies, such as pooling and pricing, could help to overcome these and other challenges. Empirical and anecdotal evidence indicates that pooling provides numerous benefits, such as reductions in energy consumption and emissions, congestion mitigation, and reduced parking demand. In addition, more efficient SAV routing could support pooling while also minimizing travel-time impacts. Despite these potential benefits, there could be some barriers to supporting pooled rides including a lack of supportive infrastructure and personal safety concerns. Additionally, events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic may require additional public health guidance for pooled rides. While the full impacts of AVs are uncertain, energy

90 Shared Automated Vehicle Toolkit: Policies and Planning Considerations for Implementation and congestion impacts will vary based on whether AVs are shared and/or pooled. Policy options, such as designing roadways to prioritize pooled vehicles and subsidizing pooled rides, could encourage pooling. Pricing strategies (e.g., road and curb) could also be implemented to support pooling and help to guide sustainable outcomes. Pricing strategies can be designed to ensure road users pay an equitable share (e.g., means-based pricing) for their use and impacts on the transportation infrastructure. Direct charges levied for the use of roads and curb frontage, such as road tolls, distance or time-based fees, congestion charges, and parking fees could be employed to dis- courage higher-polluting, lower-occupancy vehicles. Pilot Projects and Evaluations The implementation and evaluation of MOD and SAV pilot projects can help communities and public agencies better understand the impacts of these services and replicate what works. Pilot programs can be an effective tool to help the public sector • Prepare and implement MOD and SAV services; • Validate technical and institutional feasibility of new MOD and SAV services; • Measure the impacts on specially targeted projects; • Allow for the testing and implementing of large-scale change; • Create models that other public agencies can borrow and customize; • Serve as venues for evaluating public policies and regulations that could either support or hinder the operation of MOD and SAV services; • Try new MOD and SAV services on a limited scale (in terms of time and/or distribution); and • Monitor the success, adapt if necessary, reduce the risk of failures, and maximize the potential for longer-term success (scaling and financial sustainability) after a pilot ends. To assess the potential impacts of MOD and SAVs on these different areas, this toolkit sug- gests a three-phase pilot and implementation framework to plan, pilot, and evaluate MOD and AV deployments in order to identify best practices and foster collaboration. Phase 1 consists of an initial assessment, design thinking workshops, and problem statement development aimed at understanding community concerns. This is followed by Phase 2, which includes a process of refinement and prioritization—as well as CoPs—aimed at creating institutional capabilities to foster collaboration and pilot experimentation. Phase 3 is focused on pilot implementation and evaluation. In the future, MOD and increasing vehicle automation will likely have a disruptive and trans- formative effect on transportation. MOD and SAVs may impact a variety of areas including land use, travel behavior, the environment, user demographics, social equity, and labor. MOD deployment already affects these areas; however, the extent to which vehicle automation will impact these areas is unclear. The strategies discussed in this toolkit reflect current understand- ing and will continue to evolve. As the transportation sector recovers from the pandemic, the longer-term impacts of COVID-19 may need to be considered. Public policy will be needed to maximize the potential social equity and sustainability opportunities of these technologies.