House and Senate Republicans are proposing the creation of a “Statewide Alternative Transportation Authority” that would oversee developing transportation systems for such things as autonomous vehicles.
The authority would be within the state Department of Transportation and would receive $60 million beginning in the 2021-2022 fiscal year, according to the House and Senate proposals.
The House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee last week approved the House version (HB 535), sponsored by Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, and Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa.
Meanwhile, Sen. Dana Young, R-Tampa, filed the Senate version (SB 1200) on Friday. The bills will be considered during the 2018 legislative session, which starts Jan. 9.