CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
CPUC Issues Proposal to Deploy New Autonomous Vehicle

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), in its ongoing efforts to support transportation innovation and ensure transportation options for all, has issued for public comment a proposal that would allow autonomous vehicle companies to provide passenger transportation services, charge fares, and offer shared trips. The proposal will be on the CPUC's Voting Meeting agenda for November 19, 2020.

The proposal, officially termed a Proposed Decision, would:

• Create two new deployment programs: the Drivered Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Program and the Driverless Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Program, which allow participants to offer shared rides and accept monetary compensation for rides in autonomous vehicles;
• Require applicants to possess a "Permit to Deploy Autonomous Vehicles on Public Streets" from the DMV to participate in both of the CPUC's Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Programs;
• Require applicants to submit Passenger Safety Plans that detail how they will protect passenger safety for driverless operations;
• Require applicants to submit a COVID-19 Emergency Plan;
• Require participants to submit detailed quarterly data reports that enable stakeholders to track companies' progress; and,
• Make administrative changes to the pilots, such as changing the timing that quarterly reports are due to better align with the California Department of Motor Vehicles' reporting requirements. 

The proposal builds on actions issued on May 18, 2018 in Decision 18-05-043, which authorized two pilot programs that allowed participants to transport members of the public as passengers in autonomous vehicles so that the public can provide critical feedback to the CPUC and the permit-holders.

The proposal establishes four goals that apply to both the existing pilot programs and the new deployment programs: 1) protect passenger safety; 2) expand the benefits of autonomous vehicle technologies to all of California's communities; 3) improve transportation options for all, particularly for disadvantaged communities and low-income communities; and 4) reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The CPUC will collect data to monitor the participants' progress toward each of the goals.

The proposal is available at: https://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/Efile/G000/M348/K580/348580207.PDF. Opening comments from parties are due November 4, 2020, and reply comments are due November 9, 2020.

Documents related to the proceeding are available at: https://apps.cpuc.ca.gov/apex/f?p=401:56:0::NO:RP,57,RIR:P5_PROCEEDING_SELECT:R1212011. By clicking the "Public Comments" tab, members of the public can submit comments on the proposal and read the comments of others.

For more information on the CPUC's Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Service Pilot Programs, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov/avcpilotinfo.

The CPUC regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians' access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.