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Pennsylvania State Senate
04/18/2024 06:59 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=20119
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: April 27, 2016 01:54 PM
From: Senator Randy Vulakovich and Sen. Wayne D. Fontana, Sen. Jay Costa, Sen. John C. Rafferty, Jr., Sen. John N. Wozniak
To: All Senate members
Subject: Autonomous Vehicle Testing
 
In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation to allow for the testing of autonomous vehicles on Pennsylvania’s transportation system.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, only seven states (California, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, Tennessee and Utah) and the District of Columbia have successfully enacted autonomous vehicle legislation. Our legislation would be an integral step forward if Pennsylvania wants to be a top competitor to advance economic development in this innovative and thriving market.

Our legislation is also being introduced to support the City of Pittsburgh’s application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for their Smart City Challenge. Pittsburgh was named as one of the seven finalists to be eligible for $40 million to “fully integrate innovative technologies – self-driving cars, connected vehicles and smart sensors – into their transportation network”. Additionally, the USDOT recently revealed a “10-year proposal estimated at nearly $4 billion for the development and adoption of safe vehicle automation through real-world pilot projects”.

The legislation would encourage the development, testing and operation of autonomous vehicles in Pennsylvania. The legislation would also provide for the needed requirements for the safety and control of autonomous vehicles, vehicle testers and the traveling public.

Please join us in co-sponsoring this pioneering legislation that will create jobs, advance safety and supplant Pennsylvania as a haven for innovation, technology and a forward-thinking transportation network.

If you have any questions, please contact Nolan Ritchie, Senator Rafferty’s Office, at nritchie@pasen.gov or Josh Myers, Senator Wozniak’s Office, at jmyers@pasenate.com.

Introduced as SB1268