The Cabinet will partner with other state transportation agencies and organizations such as the GHSA, AAMVA, AAA, and the NCHRP when adopting best practices. GHSA and AAMVA have published reports that discuss how state transportation agencies can prepare for CAV testing and deployment (see references). As noted, NCHRP Project 20-102 includes 31 completed and ongoing research studies. Project findings will be a valuable source of information.

The Cabinet will also benefit from partnering or coordinating with other state transportation agencies to ensure future laws, regulations, or policies enacted in Kentucky benefit people who live in, work in, and travel through the state. Collaborating with other jurisdictions will help KYTC and the General Assembly make sound and informed policy decisions. Focal areas include registration and licensing procedures, insurance and liability laws, and highway design and maintenance protocols. Achieving regulatory consistency across the US will ensure a regulatory patchwork does not hamper the advancement of CAV testing and adoption. Kentucky-based companies that operate across state lines can also benefit from this, particularly those that plan to incorporate CAVs into their vehicle portfolios.

In addition to partnering with outside stakeholders, KYTC will look inward to ensure new CAV policies or regulations are consistent with existing statutes, policies, and plans. A potential source of assistance in this area is a report from researchers at the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) that reviews existing policies, regulations, and statutes to identify possible barriers to AV testing (Gibson et al. 2017). Introducing new policies or regulations that clash with or contradict long-standing policies will frustrate the testing and deployment of emerging vehicle technologies. During planning and policymaking, it is critical for the Cabinet to consult all relevant stakeholders. Additionally, research conducted by the University of Louisville on driver acceptance of AVs in Kentucky can be a valuable source of information for policymakers.

KYTC’s two connected corridor pilot projects — KY 876/US 25 in Richmond and US 231 in Bowling Green — will help the agency learn about the implementation of CV technologies and how they benefit the public. Using these projects as a springboard, the Cabinet will locate other corridors most likely to benefit from installing connected technologies. Where KYTC deploys connected infrastructure, it should purchase interoperable equipment and technologies and factor in the shorter lifecycles of ITS technologies relative to the longer service lives of bridges and roadways.

Many people do not have a good understanding of CAVs, automation levels, ADAS, and ADS. KYTC can help people learn about these technologies through the development of educational materials and active outreach. The goal of this work is to clearly describe CAV capabilities and the responsibilities of human drivers. Guidance from PAVE and other organizations will be used to produce compelling yet informative educational material and develop strong outreach. These efforts will go a long way toward ensuring safe transportation network operations as mixed vehicle fleets become the norm. 

Kentucky has a solid track record of leveraging emerging technologies to improve road operations. In addition to the AID demonstration project and truck platooning legislation, KYTC has adopted forward-thinking policies related to the acquisition and provision of real-time traffic data. Since 2014 the Cabinet has partnered with Waze to supply real-time traffic data to motorists through Waze for Cities. KYTC also licenses historical and real-time speed data from HERE. These data are critical for developing congestion measures and prioritizing congestion projects. Data from Waze and HERE appear on GoKY, where users can view continuously updated web maps with statewide traffic conditions. For over 20 years KYTC has been a leader in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), garnering awards and recognition from organizations such as AASHTO. 

KYTC has an important role to play in bringing CAV technologies to Kentucky’s roadways. Given the Cabinet’s exemplary history of putting novel technologies to work, the agency is confident it can integrate the next generation of breakthroughs into the planning, development, operations, and maintenance of roads and bridges. In so doing, the Cabinet will build a safe, efficient, environmentally sound and fiscally responsible transportation system that delivers economic opportunity and quality of life for Kentuckians.