Notice of Public Meeting: National Dialogue on Highway Automation

Brandye L. Hendrickson
Federal Highway Administration
17 July 2018

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33287-33288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15232]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Notice of Public Meeting: National Dialogue on Highway Automation

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), U.S. Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA is holding a National Dialogue on Highway Automation 
through a series of public meetings across the country to seek input on 
the integration of automated vehicles on the Nation's roadways. The 
objectives of the public meetings are: (1) To engage with a diverse 
group of stakeholders to understand key issues regarding automated 
vehicles and their implications for the roadway infrastructure; and (2) 
to gather input on highway automation to help inform FHWA research, 
policy, and programs. The public meetings will have

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presentations and breakout sessions during which participants can 
provide input to FHWA and DOT representatives. The National Dialogue 
meetings began on June 26 and will continue through the end of 2018.

DATE AND TIME:  The FHWA will hold the public meetings in approximately 
five locations across the country. A tentative schedule is outlined 
below and is subject to change. Meeting information will be updated and 
made available on the FHWA National Dialogue on Highway Automation 
website: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/automationdialogue/index.htm.
    Tentative meetings include the following:

 Week of July 30, 2018: National Workshop 2: Data and Digital 
Infrastructure (Seattle, Washington)
 September 2018: National Workshop 3: Freight (Chicago, 
Illinois)
 October 24-25, 2018: National Workshop 4: Operations (Phoenix, 
Arizona)
 November 14-15, 2018: National Workshop 5: Infrastructure and 
Multi-Modal Safety (Austin, Texas)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the public 
meeting, please contact John Corbin at john.corbin@dot.gov or 
highwayautomation@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Registration is necessary for all attendees. 
Registration information will be available at https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/automationdialogue/index.htm. In-person attendance will be limited, so 
advance registration is required for all attendees. Should it be 
necessary to cancel the meeting due to inclement weather or other 
emergency, FHWA will take all available measures to notify registered 
participants beforehand.

Background

    Automated vehicles have the potential to significantly transform 
the Nation's roadways. They could help save lives, expand access to 
transportation, and improve the convenience of travel. However, even as 
these technologies offer new opportunities, they may introduce new 
challenges for the agencies responsible for the planning, design, 
construction, operation, and maintenance of the Nation's roadway 
infrastructure. As a result, FHWA is interested in better understanding 
the implications of highway automation.
    This National Dialogue on Highway Automation is an opportunity to 
engage the public and broader stakeholder community to understand their 
key areas of interest. These stakeholders will include original 
equipment manufacturers, technology suppliers, transportation network 
companies, associations, and public sector partners. The National 
Dialogue will help inform national research, policy, and implementation 
assistance activities to support automation readiness.

Meeting Format

    The National Dialogue meetings are designed to support significant 
interaction among participants. Workshops will include discussions with 
government and industry leaders, breakout sessions, listening sessions, 
and opportunities to collaborate with meeting participants. Each 
workshop will run from 1 to 1.5 days and will have opportunities for 
general and topic-specific input. Focus areas identified include policy 
and planning, data and digital infrastructure, freight, operations, 
safety, infrastructure, and multi-modal safety.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 1.25a.

    Issued on: July 6, 2018.
Brandye L. Hendrickson,
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-15232 Filed 7-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P