Transportation Authority backs state bill to require crash reporting for partially automated vehicles

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority Board voted to support Senate Bill 572 on July 8, 2025, adopting a formal support position by voice and roll call.

Martin Reyes, principal transportation planner for the Transportation Authority, presented the board’s recommended support position and described SB 572 as “related to crash data for partially autonomous vehicles.” He said the bill would require manufacturers to provide crash data for partially automated vehicles to the state if federal reporting requirements are repealed, and noted that the DMV already collects crash data for fully autonomous vehicles.

The action matters because it would provide a state-level backstop for crash reporting if federal rules changed, the board’s staff said. Reyes also used the legislative update to summarize recent state budget developments and regional transit efforts: the legislature reversed earlier proposed statewide transit cuts, approved $750 million in loans to Bay Area transit operators, and lawmakers leading Senate Bill 63 are preparing an expenditure plan for a potential regional revenue measure.

Chair Mirna Melgar and several commissioners praised staff for technical work with regional partners on SB 63. Reyes told the board the SB 63 working group — representing five county transportation authorities — is finalizing technical guidance and that San Mateo and Santa Clara counties must opt into the regional measure by Aug. 11; San Francisco, Alameda and Contra Costa are included by default. Reyes also summarized an MTC endorsement of an approximately $45 million annual set-aside for transit transformation programs within the potential regional measure.

The board took a formal motion on the staff recommendation. Commissioner Mandelmann moved to adopt the support position on SB 572; Commissioner Dorsey seconded. A roll call recorded 10 ayes and no recorded no votes; the clerk announced the motion approved.

The board asked staff to return with updates as the legislative process advances. Reyes and Transportation Authority staff indicated they will brief the board again as the expenditure plan for SB 63 is drafted and as loan terms for the $750 million in transit loans are developed.