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Board adopts conceptual safety-focused autonomous vehicle permitting framework report
Summary
The Transportation Authority approved a conceptual, phased permitting framework that would tie incremental AV operating permissions to performance metrics and public data reporting; the report is intended to inform state rulemaking at the DMV and CPUC and to press for stronger transparency standards.
The San Francisco County Transportation Authority on Sept. 9 approved a conceptual permitting framework that would require incremental, performance-based authorization of autonomous vehicle operations and public reporting of safety and operational data.
Drew Cooper, principal transportation modeler, presented the framework staff prepared at the board's earlier request. The proposal lays out phases beginning with testing with a safety driver, then pilot operations without a driver, and then incrementally larger commercial deployment phases. Each phase would come with operational constraints (where and when vehicles may operate and fleet size limits) and objective performance standards that a company must meet to advance or remain in a phase.
Cooper said the framework pairs lagging safety indicators (collision, injury and fatality rates) with leading indicators (for example, unplanned roadway stops, frequency of blocked first-responder access and events requiring manual retrieval) and that companies would need to demonstrate specified performance levels and submit regular, publicly available data reports. He said some benchmarks were informed by federal human-driver statistics where comparable data exist; for other AV-specific measures staff used judgment to propose illustrative thresholds and stressed that the framework is conceptual.
Commissioners questioned the regulatory reach and the next steps. Several commissioners, including Rafael Mandelmann and others, noted that California's DMV and the CPUC have primary regulatory authority over AV technology and commercial passenger service, respectively. Staff said the report is intended to inform and advocate in ongoing state rulemaking proceedings and to provide a local, detailed approach that could be adopted or referenced by state regulators.
Questions from commissioners addressed the data baseline and enforcement: staff acknowledged that currently available company reporting is limited and that the conceptual framework relies on regulators requiring data disclosure. Board discussion also covered resource implications, equity and whether passenger and delivery AV services should be addressed separately; staff said this work arose from the Authority's technology policy line item and is a tool for advocacy, not a newly authorized local permitting regime.
The board approved the report by roll call (recorded 9 ayes; Commissioner Walton was absent). Rachel Clyde of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition spoke in support but urged stronger emphasis on protections for vulnerable road users and public reporting of risky or illegal behaviors (for example, AVs stopping in bike lanes).
Why it matters: San Francisco has been an early environment for AV deployments and the report sets out a transparent, performance-focused approach that staff will use in state rulemaking advocacy to push for stronger reporting and more prescriptive phase gates.
Next steps: Staff will use the report in comment filings and briefings with DMV and CPUC rulemaking staff and will continue to press for data reporting requirements and an accountability framework.
