On the Scene: Southwest
PHOTO COURTESY NEVADA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Automated-Vehicle Workshop Draws Hundreds To Las Vegas
In January, more than 125 state and federal licensing, enforcement and transportation officials, as well as carmakers, data providers and insurers, met in Las Vegas to determine a future regulatory framework for automated vehicles.
The Nevada Dept. of Transportation hosted the all-day, invite-only event. The meeting was cosponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. Attendees included representatives from Volkswagen, Daimler, Toyota, Ford and Hyundai, among others, plus government officials from Nevada, Michigan, California, Iowa, Arizona, Washington, D.C., and Colorado. The objective was to discuss the standardization of regulations for insurance and operational issues.
“The workshop brought together a diverse group of state and national leaders to debate and advance the dialogue about the issues surrounding autonomous vehicles,” says NDOT Deputy Director Tracy Larkin-Thomason. “It framed the discussion surrounding licensing, data collection, liability, funding and infrastructure, among other things.”
At the meeting, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) announced the creation of an autonomous-vehicle center that will assist in the testing and development of self-driving vehicles.
Arizona USGBC honors LEED-Certified Projects
On Feb. 24, USGBC Arizona held its fourth annual Heavy Medals Banquet at Phoenix Civic Plaza. The event recognizes owners and construction teams for their efforts to attain LEED certification for their Arizona-located buildings.
Jim Hansen, an adjunct professor in the department of earth and environmental sciences at Columbia University and a former NASA scientist, was the featured speaker.
Fifty-three projects were recognized, including five certified as Platinum, 20 as Gold, 17 as Silver and 11 as certified.
The Platinum-certified projects included La Mesita South Phase 1, in Mesa; UL2, Phoenix; Gateway Green at Old Town, Cottonwood; Tempe Transportation Center, Tempe; and Stepping Stone Place, Phoenix.