TSRC, PATH Featured at Leadership Session on Autonomous Vehicles

September 14, 2017

Transportation Sustainability Research Center Co-Director Susan Shaheen and California Partners for Advanced Transportation Technology Program Manager Steven Shladover were recently named as moderator and panelist, respectively, for the upcoming California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Thought Leaders Speaker Series. The series topic will be autonomous vehicles.

The session takes place Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the CPUC Auditorium, 505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco. The session will also be available in real time and archived via video webcast at:www.californiaadmin.com/cpuc.shtml
The discussion will focus on autonomous vehicles and will address questions such as the current, future, and futurist applications of autonomous vehicles; the challenges and opportunities for innovators, safety regulators, and urban planners; and the possible impact on various private sector transportation business models, including Transportation Network Companies (e.g., UberX, Lyft) and taxis, among others (e.g., car-sharing), and their accompanying regulations.
In addition to Shaheen, Marzia Zafar, Director of Policy & Planning Division, CPUC
will also moderate.
On the panel, Shladover will discuss the technological challenges to achieving safety at different levels of vehicle automation. 
Sarah Hunter,Head of Policy, GoogleX, will give an overview of Google’s experience developing and testing autonomous vehicle technologies.
Bernard Soriano, Deputy Director of Risk Management, California Department of Motor Vehicles, will discuss developing regulations for manufacturer testing of autonomous vehicles on public roadways.
Ashwini Chhabra, Policy Director, Uber, will discuss how autonomous vehicles may impact various private sector transportation business models and their accompanying regulations.
For more information on Thought Leaders, including archived video webcasts of prior Thought Leaders events, please visit:www.cpuc.ca.gov/thoughtleaders.
The CPUC hosts the Thought Leaders Speaker Series to stimulate thought and discussion of some of the most pressing challenges facing California utility regulators and the private sector industries impacted by state policies. Leading experts from around the world take center stage to offer their expertise and vision in areas such as communications, energy, water, transportation, the environment, green jobs, and more.
Although a quorum of Commissioners may be in attendance, no CPUC action will be taken at this event. For more information on the CPUC, please visit: www.cpuc.ca.gov.