The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has released a five year strategic plan - not to be confused at all with former Soviet five year plans - called STAR, which stands for Strategic Transit Automation Research. I guess the nature of plans is to assume linear development that progresses in a rational and even manner and this is certainly the case with the FTA's STAR plan. To give FTA credit, the agency is earnestly trying to help transit systems and communities to adjust to a world with both new technology and travel modes that blur what were once very clear lines.
The STAR plan will be carried out from FY 2018 through FY 22, with low-speed autonomous vehicle (AV) demonstration projects to commence in the second year of the plan. The plan includes traditional transit, old on-demand modes, and newer on-demand and other shared-use services, including, but not limited to (one needs a legal degree to use that phrase), paratransit, ridehailing, and bus rapid transit. STAR loosely defines a bus “to consider a range of sizes and passenger capacities, and could include both traditional and novel vehicle designs (e.g. full-size city buses, articulated buses, and small shuttles).” Paying close attention to the parentheses in that definition, it is clear that FTA is acknowledging the blurriness of distinctions evolving, even being erased, within transit and between transit and legacy on-demand modes of paratransit, community transportation services, and taxis/ridehailing.
FTA is also including in STAR labor questions relating to transit’s workforce and automated operations related to maintenance, yard, and parking.
In the meadow, we can build a snowman ...
As we speak, it seems, advances are happening. One big concern for AVs is snow and its close cousin, ice. But snow is not scary for Finland's prototype autonomous car. It bears the cute name of Marti and its city slicker companion is named Marilyn. Marti is already driving than most people on icy roads in a winter wonderland, albeit at a slow pace. I would not want it otherwise. Why would anyone expect any vehicle to speed along in those conditions?
I can't resist including the song. It's better audio than the Marti video.
Happy last day of Hanukkah and an early fabulous winter soltsice, which is tomorrow. I'm pretty sure there will be something to write about by Christmas, but just in case, have a fun and very merry Christmas as well. Now I can't stop humming the winter wonderland song.
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