Federal Highway Administration National Dialogue on Highway Automation: October 24-25, 2018 Operations Workshop Summary

Breakout Session I: AV Impacts and Issues for Operations

This section summarizes stakeholder discussion from the first breakout session. The following questions were asked:

• What are the priority issues or challenges for traffic operations as AVs are introduced into the transportation system?
• What use cases or operational scenarios involving AVs need further attention from a network efficiency or operations perspective? (e.g., complex intersections, work zones, signal priority, etc.)
• What are the near-term operations challenges, especially as infrastructure owner-operators (IOOs) are interacting with AV pilots, demonstrations, and deployments on their roadways?
• How do we ensure the safety of emergency responders and others working in the roadway (e.g., when addressing an incident involving an AV and how will AVs impact traffic incident management procedures)?

Mixed Fleet Presents Operational Challenges

Varying levels of AV penetration in the vehicle fleet will influence how IOOs consider traffic operations challenges for the broader roadway network. Workshop participants pointed out how the vehicle fleet will remain mixed, with automated and non-automated vehicles operating together for the near future. A fully automated fleet may provide opportunities to more widely or uniformly apply strategies aimed at improving system operational efficiency, such as variable speed limits and speed harmonization. However, impacts of a mixed fleet are a source of uncertainty. In addition, prioritization of infrastructure investments and broader system management strategies will be made more difficult during a prolonged period of mixed fleet operation, considering the likely differences in how AVs and conventional vehicles will operate.

AVs May Encounter Difficulties in Specific Operational Environments

Throughout the workshop, participants continued to highlight concerns regarding the numerous operational environments that could pose a challenge for AVs. A sample list of the operational scenarios discussed included; work zones, temporary road closures, adverse weather conditions, poorly defined roadways (e.g., gravel roads), special events, special vehicles (e.g., school buses, emergency vehicles, snow plows), very rural environments (e.g., navigating around agricultural vehicles), highly congested urban environments, railroad crossings, and interactions with wild animals crossing roadways. Severe weather may also make striping/signage unreadable or may damage sensors built into the roadway infrastructure. In addition to navigating these scenarios, AVs must also be able to safely transition between different types of environments and scenarios without being disruptive to traffic flow. Many participants suggested that more study and research is necessary to better understand the safety and efficiency impacts of AVs in a range of operational environments.

Development of Workforce Training and Resources on AVs Could Benefit IOOs and the Transportation Community

Automated vehicles use complex and emerging technologies that the transportation community may not fully understand. Workshop participants discussed the need for more training and information and resources for the existing transportation workforce, and also for identifying new types of skills and capabilities needed by transportation professionals in the future. Assessing workforce training requirements was identified as an important factor in supporting organizational readiness for AVs. Some suggested developing guidance addressing the specific levels and areas of expertise needed for operating traffic systems with AVs.

Prioritizing Funding and Resources for AV-Related Activities with Other Critical Investment Needs is a Challenge for IOOs

For IOOs, funding infrastructure maintenance, investment, and planning will likely entail tradeoffs. IOOs will face balancing the continuing maintenance, operations, and safety investments in infrastructure with preparing for AVs. The workshop discussion highlighted questions on the extent to which IOOs should continue funding traditional ITS technologies, connectivity and V2X capabilities. Several participants suggested IOOs could benefit from guidance on how to prioritize investments that could support broader AV integration.

Law Enforcement and Emergency Response Will Need to Know How to Interact with AVs

Clear plans and processes for law enforcement and emergency responders to address AVs are a priority due to the safety implications. This may require law enforcement interaction plans and adequate training for first responders to support safer integration of AVs. Workshop participants recommended that law enforcement interaction plans include additional information about how to pull over an AV, how an AV could be warned to move out of the path of an emergency vehicle, how to ensure that an AV will not leave the scene of an accident, and how to completely disable an AV with a "kill switch." However, they also recognized that more research may be needed to understand these issues.