SDOT Engages Community on the Future of Autonomous Vehicles in Seattle, Prioritizing Safety, Equity, Sustainability, and Collaboration

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Summary:

• We've been preparing for the arrival of autonomous vehicles (AVs) for years. In 2017, Governor Inslee issued Executive Order 17-02 enabling AV testing and operation in Washington State. SDOT's New Mobility Playbook, released the same year, was our first move to begin preparing for AVs. State law created a self-certification program and includes additional guidance for the testing of AVs in Washington State via RCW 46.92.010.
• In 2022, we supplemented the existing State self-certification program for AV testing by developing a permit program for AV testing in Seattle, issuing our first permits in 2023 to Zoox, Inc. and NVIDIA Corporation, two companies with a testing presence in the city.
• Our AV permits build upon the State program by requiring a test driver in all vehicles and that companies provide a first responder plan and demonstration event to increase awareness of how to interact with the vehicles being tested.
• Our permitting process focuses on the safety of the traveling public with the measures noted above and other requirements of companies piloting autonomous vehicles in Seattle.
• In 2023, SDOT developed an Autonomous Vehicle Strategic Vision in partnership with the City of Bellevue that provides a framework for our approach to integrating AVs into our transportation system. The Seattle Transportation Plan also includes a New and Emerging Mobility element.
• We have established an Autonomous Vehicle Inclusive Planning Cohort (AVIPC) to provide recommendations for our future approach to AV operations in Seattle. Throughout 2024, the AVIPC will meet to discuss topics related to AV integration and potential community effects.

As we continue to follow State law regarding autonomous vehicle (AV) deployments across Washington State, we have established an Autonomous Vehicle Inclusive Planning Cohort. This cohort is comprised of diverse members and centers community voices in AV policymaking in Seattle while prioritizing the safety of the traveling public.

Seattle is a town of innovation and technology, even in the way we move around our communities. New mobility options such as autonomous vehicles, sidewalk robots (also known as personal delivery devices), and drones are starting to arrive in cities across the world, and various companies want to operate them here in Seattle. Our New Mobility team at SDOT supports the integration of these new and emerging technologies and services into the existing transportation system with a focus on safety, climate, and equitable outcomes.

Seattle's Autonomous Vehicle Approach

Seattle recognizes the potential benefits that autonomous vehicles may have within our communities. However, there are several key considerations that the City must evaluate as we work to deliver a transportation system that meets the needs of our communities while also meeting the following outcomes:

• Safety: Ensure that AVs can operate safely around people walking, rolling, and biking, as well as other vehicles.
• Sustainability: Reduce carbon emissions produced by transportation in Seattle.
• Equity: Provide AV technology that is accessible to everyone with a focus on people in areas historically underserved by our transportation system.
• Collaboration: Develop partnerships with vendors and other transportation agencies to create a better experience for everyone.

Our AV work is already underway:

• In 2022, we released our AV testing permit terms and application to supplement existing State requirements.
• In 2023, we issued the first AV testing permits to Zoox Inc. and NVIDIA, allowing them to continue testing under the state's self-certification license while adding requirements such as a test driver in all vehicles, and training for Seattle's first responders.
• In 2023, we released our Autonomous Vehicle Strategic Vision in partnership with the City of Bellevue which lays out a framework for our role in integrating this new technology.
• Earlier this year, we launched an inclusive planning process with members of the community, the AV industry, and other stakeholders to help develop effective policies and strategies for Seattle ahead of broader deployment in Washington State.

Meet our AV Inclusive Planning Cohort

To address the specific challenges and opportunities that come with autonomous vehicles, we established the Autonomous Vehicle Inclusive Planning Cohort. The cohort is a group dedicated to ensuring that the introduction of AVs in Seattle benefits everyone and aligns with our goals of safety, sustainability, and equity.

We invited people with personal and professional expertise and who represent local community-based organizations, coalitions, and networks from or service the following communities:

• People of color
• People with low incomes
• Immigrant and refugee populations
• People living with disabilities
• People who have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity
• LGBTQ+ people
• Racial justice, environmental justice, and/or transportation justice-based organizations
• Underrepresented and under-resourced human service providers and community-based organizations

The group will participate in a 6-month facilitated process to provide community-guided recommendations. These recommendations will be considered in the development of AV policy, legislation, and strategies for our department.

"We are honored to facilitate this community-driven process to imagine a more inclusive and robust transportation future. Guided by the community cohort, our team will aid in the development of a community priorities framework that will articulate areas where SDOT should place disproportionate interest when considering autonomous vehicle policies. This will result in a more thoughtful process that is responsive to community needs." - Uncommon Bridges

"We are bringing nearly a decade of experience working with communities throughout the country on the impacts of AVs and how best to leverage this emerging technology to achieve community goals. In this project we will be sharing lessons learned from previous work, documenting the cohort process, and creating a final report that synthesizes key takeaways." - The Urbanism Next Center at the University of Oregon

What We've Heard

The group began meeting in April 2024 and has established a community priority framework for key areas, including:

• Management and accountability
• Workforce protection and development
• Accessibility and affordability
• Physical safety and data privacy
• Environmental and congestion impacts
• Intersectional equity
• Education to community

What's Next

The AVIPC will continue to meet throughout the summer to build their recommendations focusing on topics ranging from workforce protection, accessibility, affordability, safety, environmental impacts, and educating the community. The process will culminate with a Racial Equity Toolkit, and a final report from the University of Oregon's Urbanism Next Center will be published following the conclusion of this first cohort process.

We want to thank our inclusive planning cohort members, and we look forward to collaborating on a future vision for AVs in Seattle.

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