The impacts of TNCs, automated vehicles, and other emerging technologies will depend on the cost and convenience of low- and zero-occupancy vehicle travel for individuals and commercial services. The long-term direction of these advancements could provide considerable benefits to individuals, but they could also incur great public cost. On one hand, decline of car ownership in dense urban neighborhoods might allow substantial reallocation of road space for transit, pedestrians, and cyclists, yet some areas could see increased demand for automobile-oriented development, declines in public transit ridership and fare revenue, and increased congestion, unreliability, and maintenance needs on the region’s roadways. Many decisions about safety and design standards will be made at the federal level, but regional and local agencies will need to implement policies to manage the public costs of low- or zero-occupancy vehicle travel. New pricing strategies can support the competitiveness of high-capacity public transit, ensure funding is available for infrastructure and operational maintenance and modernization, and temper the demand for low occupancy vehicle use.

CMAP and its partners can influence the deployment of emerging technologies through strategic and coordinated policies. The region should avoid prohibiting or mandating specific technologies and focus on integrating new technologies into existing transportation systems and services in ways that leverage the new services’ strengths and help achieve reinvestment in existing communities, inclusive economic growth, congestion management, and emissions reduction. Appropriate policies may vary across the region depending on existing development patterns and local priorities. Communities with congested, transit-rich, or pedestrian-oriented corridors may consider expanding the use of geofencing( A virtual geographic boundary that can set different rules or enable different options for GPS-enab...
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, designated pick-up and drop-off areas, and local fees to support transportation infrastructure. Communities across the region will need information to understand impacts and identify appropriate policy interventions. Over the long term, the region must identify and implement pricing and infrastructure strategies to ensure that AVs and other emerging technologies provide equitable and sustainable benefits.

Action 1

Implement managed lanes on the region’s expressways and explore other pricing policies that could manage increased travel caused by automated vehicles.

Implementers

IDOT

Action 2

Convene and coordinate regional stakeholders to engage in national and state-level conversations about automated and connected vehicle policy and industry standards.

Implementers

CMAP

Action 3

Work with communities to establish policies for AVs, TNCs, and other emerging technologies that support local land use, development, and livability goals.

Implementers

CMAP, RTA, and public transit agencies