DOT holds Access and Mobility for All Summit
By PVA National Staff
On October 29, the Department of Transportation (DOT) held the Access and Mobility for All Summit. At the Summit, Secretary Chao announced her intent to fund new programs to develop and deploy innovations in technology and further interagency partnerships to improve mobility. DOT assembled leaders from industry, academia, nonprofits, and government to participate in panel discussions and breakout sessions focused on interagency coordination, advanced vehicle technologies, and innovations in mobility services. Lee Page, Senior Associate Advocacy Director, represented PVA at the event.
As part of her keynote address, Secretary Chao announced several initiatives, including a planned Inclusive Design Challenge, which will make up to $5 million in cash prizes available to innovators who design solutions to enable accessible automated vehicles. DOT aims to increase availability and decrease cost of aftermarket modifiers that improve accessibility of vehicles today and spark development for future automated vehicles.
Also, DOT and 10 other federal agencies approved the strategic plan for the Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility, an interagency partnership to coordinate the efforts of federal agencies funding transportation services for targeted populations. The strategic plan includes goals to improve access to jobs, health care, education, and community services by eliminating government duplication of services, reducing regulatory burden, increasing access to cost-effective transportation services, and ensuring that transportation services are centered on the citizens who depend on them as a lifeline to community participation. The strategic plan will help provide better transportation outcomes through the coordination of more than 130 government-wide programs.
