FACTOR THAT MAY BE A GAME CHANGER AND MUST BE ADDRESSED NOW: SELF-DRIVING CARS AND AUTONOMOUS-DRIVING VEHICLES DEPLOYMENT.

This paper summarizes the forecast made by others on when automated and self-driving cars are going to be available, and when will they be common on the roads. Based on current forecasts, it is concluded that accommodations to construction and operation of roads and cities will not have to be done at this time, however this is the time to develop strategies to enhance positive outcomes and mitigate negative impacts the automated and self-driving cars may pose. Now is the time to think of the implications, impacts, benefits and costs, and the potential strategic physical and policy options. Autonomous vehicles and self-driving cars are going to be part of the road users’ transportation professionals are going to have to deal with. Now is the time to plan for accommodations that may need to be implemented to the road catering to users that will not have these autonomous vehicle vehicles but will conflict and interact with those that do. Research suggests that autonomous vehicles will probably increase total vehicle travel unless implemented with offsetting policies such as efficient road and parking pricing. Another critical issue is the degree of potential benefits that can be achieved when only a portion of vehicle travel is autonomous. A key public policy issue is the determination of the degree that this technology may harm people who do not use such vehicles. For now, transportation professionals must get involved in making sure that autonomous vehicles do not create negative impacts to roadway users using or not using self-driving technology. Public Policy makers must plan ahead on how to accommodate self-driving cars. Encouragement from transportation and city government professional is needed, and they must look at ways to create public policy measures that encourage benefits to the cities when self-driving cars are introduced to the market. Benefits can vary, but are not limited to reduction in the need for parking, encouragement of intermodal trips, and expansion of mobility by providing lower-cost travel options. Public policy can encourage the development of new mobility options that are obtained through self-driving cars.