Portman commends changes to federal automated vehicle policy

The Transportation Research Center (TRC), North America’s largest, independent vehicle proving ground, is located in the home state of U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), who’s happy the center now will be able to compete on more equal ground.

The TRC in January 2017 was omitted from a list of 10 sites to be designated automated vehicle (AV) proving grounds when, on the last day of leadership, the Obama administration announced a policy to advance national goals toward safely deploying AVs, according to a statement from Sen. Portman’s office.

The senator criticized the last-minute policy move that excluded Ohio’s TRC from the list, saying it would competitively disadvantage the center in gaining partnership and funding opportunities with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Recently, however, U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao changed the Obama administration’s AV policy, permitting DOT to determine its partners for testing new technology, a policy that Sen. Portman said is “based on merit, not favoritism.”

“I commend them for leveling the playing field with this announcement,” said the lawmaker in an Oct. 5 statement. “TRC’s decades of vehicle testing and wealth of relevant expertise are second-to-none, and the Department of Transportation should be able to partner with them if they choose.”

Sen. Portman has advocated for the policy change for more than a year. Last April, for instance, he hosted Secretary Chao during a visit to both the TRC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Vehicle Research and Test Center in East Liberty, Ohio. The senator had helped squash proposed relocation plans for the NHTSA testing center, according to his statement.

“I am confident that there is no better place to find a partner in this mission than the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty,” said Sen. Portman last week.