Maine AV Transit Bill: Don't Get Too Excited - Yet

Yes, it is all over the news that Maine has autonomous vehicle (AV) legislation pending that solely covers transit AV pilot programs. (Okay, that's the nerdy transportation news feed bubble I am in, probably alongside with the nerds who are reading this.) Hold your horses, here are the details and the current reality.

Tiptoeing into the AV ocean; sandcastle work in progress

[Image from storemeister.com]

The legislation, LR 26ll, would only be in effect until end of March 2022. It would permit municipalities to collaborate with the Maine "Secretary of State, the department and the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Bureau of Insurance" to "develop, test and operate a pilot program for the use of autonomous vehicles for public transportation in the municipality."

If a municipality chooses to enter into an MOA (memorandum of agreement) with the named state agencies by December 1, 2021 to host an AV shuttle pilot, then those municipalities must each "submit a report regarding the pilot program to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters."

In a situation similar, though not identical, to the California Contra Costa AV shuttle pilot, Maine's bill seems written to allow for an already hatching shuttle idea, in this case the Portland AV shuttle that the mayor is pushing for (my read of the Maine Press Herald article). In contrast to the California law, which was specifically designed for one particular location's AV pilot, the Maine bill has generic language, which would allow for AV shuttles elsewhere in the state. I'm thinking tourism in the summer or service in those cute beach and college towns. Maine is a pretty place.

Reality

The bill was introduced a few months ago and there are no hearings set, no votes taken, and no other signs of progress. If anyone is familiar with Maine politics, let me know what are the chances of passage and the likelihood that any municipality other than Portland will take advantage of the bill.