Page 59 - Florence County, SC Florence County 2032: Connecting Our Past, Defining Our Future

WHAT THE
(TRANSPORTATION

TECHNOLOGY)

FUTURE MAY HOLD

Perhaps in more than any other aspect of this
Comprehensive Plan, potential breakthroughs in
various transportation-related technologies could
have a profound effect on basic daily commuting and The trucking industry is expected to see some of the first large-
scale deployments of AV in long-haul fleets using vehicles
travel activities, plus in other areas such as reduced such as the Otto truck (now owned by Uber).
parking needs. The challenge for county planning A good deal of uncertainty exists about the changes
is that the nature and timing of such technological that AVs will bring to cities and regions. As this
advances remains uncertain, although some Comprehensive Plan is a long-range plan, it is
possibilities and scenarios are becoming less abstract wise to begin to consider the policy, land use, and
and “futuristic” all the time. This includes everything infrastructure implications of AV adoption, such as:
from vehicle design and materials to fuel options,
lowered energy consumption and emissions, and • Future roads may require less pavement width,
future mobility infrastructure in general. making more room for bicycles, pedestrians,
and green space within existing rights-of-way
Although it will be decades before autonomous (following a complete streets philosophy).
vehicles (AVs) are the dominant form of • Traffic management systems, such as traffic
transportation, AVs will change our cities sooner signals and signs, may need to be changed.
rather than later. Between 2018 and 2021, 11 of the Sensor and other technology may need to be
largest automakers plan to have fully autonomous added to roadways.
vehicles available. Significant early adoption is seen
as likely for long-haul truck fleets, through vehicles • Forecasts are that most autonomous vehicles
such as the Otto truck, now owned by Uber. will also be electric vehicles. Electric vehicle
infrastructure will need to be widely available.
• Land use patterns may shift for a variety of
reasons, including that AVs may induce sprawl
as people are able and/or willing to commute
longer distances, and parking lot needs may be
reduced.

Source: APA Preparing Communities for Autonomous Vehicles Report, 2018.

52 | Plan Pottawatomie County 2040 Adopted - August 19, 2019