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    PennDOT has created the Automated Vehicle Guidebook for Municipalities to help prepare local governments for the deployment of Highly Automated Vehicles (HAVs). The guide was developed in response to the enactment of Pennsylvania's Act 130 in late 2022, which legalized commercial operations of HAVs within the state. The document explains that PennDOT is the sole regulatory authority for HAVs in Pennsylvania and will lead the development of rules governing their operation in collaboration with municipal partners. It is intended as a resource for elected officials, municipal staff, law enforcement, and emergency service responders.

    The guidebook covers a variety of topics to help municipalities get ready for HAVs, including: safety, traffic enforcement, interacting with emergency service responders, infrastructure and risk management, potential fiscal impacts, planning, land use and zoning, and enhancing mobility. It provides overviews, proposed actions at low, medium, and high levels of investment, key questions and answers, and additional resources for each topic area.

    The guide is designed to be a starting point for municipalities to educate themselves on HAVs and is written in a way that allows readers to jump to the topics most relevant to their needs. PennDOT plans for the document to be a "living document," with regular updates as technologies, regulations, and best practices evolve. The guide also includes a template to help municipalities create their own "right-sized" HAV Action Plan.