The Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) Safety Technology Investment Flexibility Act of 2015, presented by Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI), received support on Wednesday from the American Automotive Policy Council.
The V2I proposal would authorize the use of already existing and allocated surface transportation funding to invest in technology that will improve highway safety. Miller received a letter from AAPC President Matt Blunt this week, endorsing the validity of V2I and supporting the use of transportation funds to begin the installation of the technology.
“Vehicle-to-infrastructure communication technology is critical for the domestic auto industry, and the future of highway safety and mobility,” Blunt wrote. “For the first time, V2I technology is acknowledged and uniformly defined to provide for a legislative and regulatory path forward. It is important that the legislation also clarifies that states may utilize existing surface transportation funding provided by the National Highway Performance Program (NHPP), the Surface Transportation Program (STP), and the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to invest in V2I projects as the technology becomes a more available and viable element of critical highway infrastructure.”
Miller’s bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by fellow Michigan Rep. Brenda Lawrence, a Democrat, defines V2I technology in Title 23 to provide a uniform identification for legislative and regulatory purposes. The language also clarifies that states may utilize existing surface transportation funding provided by the NHPP, the STP and the HSIP to begin investment in V2I projects and improve highway safety.