Baker creates autonomous vehicle working group
Gov. Charlie Baker
Using his executive powers, Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday announced he's forming a working group of high-level state government officials to help prepare Massachusetts for automated vehicles.
An AV Working Group will be formed to work with experts and lawmakers on proposed legislation and to support memorandum of understanding agreements companies will need to enter into with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and municipalities or state agencies "when plans are proposed for conducting testing of self-driving vehicles in Massachusetts," according to the Baker administration's announcement.
Working group members plan to deliberate over a process for seeking approval from MassDOT for testing, including submitting an application "which demonstrates the vehicle to be tested has passed a Registry of Motor Vehicles inspection, can be operated without undue risk to public safety, and at all times will have a human being inside the vehicle while it is traveling."
The governor's executive order calls for the group to include Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, Registrar of Motor Vehicles Erin Deveney, Highway Administrator Tom Tinlin, and four members designated by the Senate President Stan Rosenberg, Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, and House Minority Leader Brad Jones.
“The Commonwealth is home to many world-class innovation companies and academic institutions intimately involved in autonomous vehicle technology, which makes Massachusetts uniquely qualified to responsibly host this emerging field to foster innovation and economic growth,” Gov. Baker said in a statement. “The guidance the AV Working Group provides will be instrumental in ensuring companies can further develop autonomous vehicle technology in the Commonwealth and do so while maintaining the safety of our roadways.”
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