According to the TRB, transportation officials need to concentrate on identifying sustainable funding for infrastructure projects, promoting the safe movement of people and goods, and intently focusing on formulating rules for autonomous vehicles throughout their annual meeting (from Jan. 13 through Jan. 17) this year.
In a document titled, “Critical Issues in Transportation 2019” from the Transportation Research Board, organizers state, “The potential benefits from increased levels [of] automation and service innovations include improved mobility, faster deliveries, fewer crashes, reduced congestion and emissions, and better accessibility for the disabled, elderly, young, and economically disadvantaged,” in regards to the potential changes automation in the industry will bring.
The document adds, “But, equally possible are congested city streets and freight corridors, and more energy consumption and emissions from ubiquitously operating vehicles, as well as a sharp divide between those with the resources to purchase these services and those without them.”
Along with addressing automation, the organization plans to discuss a full dozen themes which are listed below (in no particular order).
Top 12 Priorities for Policymakers:
- Transformational Technologies and Services
- Serving a Growing and Shifting Population
- Governance
- System Performance and Asset Management
- Equity
- Research and Innovation
- Goods Movement
- Institutional and Workforce Capacity
- Funding and Finance
- Energy and Sustainability
- Resilience and Security
- Safety and Public Health
