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State Looks At Creating Authority To Oversee Autonomous Vehicles and 'Alternative' Transportation

tram traveling down road
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
JTA tests an autonomous vehicle along Bay Street in Jacksonville in March of 2017.

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.