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ITS America Meets with Biden-Harris Transition Officials

Last month, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States and Kamala Harris is our country’s first woman and woman of color to hold the office of vice president. As a candidate, Biden released Build Back Better, a plan to invest in infrastructure, jumpstart the economy, and address issues like climate change, safety, and equity. Many of the priorities outlined in this plan closely align with ITS America’s priorities.

Late last year, I had the opportunity to meet with members of the transition team for the U.S. Department of Transportation to discuss our association’s transportation priorities. I asked them to consider these priorities as they prepare executive orders and legislative proposals to improve our transportation system and achieve a better future transformed by intelligent mobility - one that is safer, greener, and smarter.

We talked about COVID-19 relief and stimulus; smart transportation and infrastructure; Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) and connected transportation technologies; highly automated vehicles; and sustainable and resilient transportation. I’ve captured a few highlights below, but if you’re interested, please check out the full document here.

On COVID-19 relief and stimulus, we have urged Congress to provide flexible emergency funding to offset revenue loss for public transit, public authorities, state DOTs and city and county transportation agencies.

When it comes to smart transportation and infrastructure, we support reauthorization of the FAST Act and an infrastructure stimulus that provide funding for the rapid integration of advanced technologies into transportation infrastructure, operations, and vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector; creating safer roadways for vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists; establishing a Mobility on Demand program; and increasing investment in public transit so everyone gains access to mobility and opportunity.

I often talk about the importance of V2X and connected transportation technologies and urged the administration to preserve the 5.9 GHz safety spectrum band for transportation use so we can realize the significant safety, environmental, and economic benefits that a robust V2X and connected vehicle network will provide.

Highly automated vehicles are on Capitol Hill’s radar, and we have urged the administration to work with Congress on a bill that maintains the federal government’s role over design, construction, and performance of highly automated vehicles and preserves state and local authority over its roads.

Last but hardly least, on sustainable and resilient transportation, we have urged the administration to support additional investments in sustainable transportation, including providing funding for the deployment of electric vehicle charging and hydrogen fueling infrastructure; maintaining and enhancing electric vehicle tax credits for personal, passenger, and freight vehicles; and supporting investment in the electrification of public transportation…and more!