Deliberations from an Expert Workshop on Vehicle Automation, Public Transportation, and Shared Mobility

As part of TRB‘s (Transportation Research Board) Road Vehicle Automation Conference (July 15th to 20th, 2013, Stanford University), a two-day expert workshop took place addressing automation, shared-mobility and transit. Google has reaffirmed its commitment to public 'Level 4' vehicles in mixed traffic by 2018, and has been testing their vehicles. But, while some public-sector transit agencies have already started to think about the impacts of increasing levels of vehicle-automation, many have limited awareness of the mobility opportunities these technologies can offer that may impact structurally on planned investment programs. Meanwhile, over the last decade European researchers have been planning for these new technologies and implementing practical demonstrations (as well as extensive research). Automation also offers opportunities for other models of transportation that are currently coming on board such as car share programs. Shared-mobility providers are generally private-sector entities facing a different competitive environment than public transit operators; there are both far-reaching visions of fully-automated taxi-style services and more near-term opportunities for shared-mobility fleets to serve as testbeds for moderate levels of automation. This paper synopsizes the workshop‘s scientific content and outcomes, including identified research needs and plans for a Task Force to advance the required program of research.