Support for AV Pilot Legislation (S.10473) & Monroe County Inclusion

Dear Representative, I am writing as a resident and constituent to express my support for current New York State Senate legislation authorizing autonomous vehicle (AV) pilot programs and testing frameworks across designated New York counties (such as S.10473). Autonomous driving technology offers significant long-term potential for enhancing roadway safety, expanding accessible mobility options for non-drivers, reducing traffic inefficiencies, and maintaining New York’s position as a hub for advanced technical innovation. Establishing structured, state-regulated frameworks for automated driving systems (ADS) operating within well-defined Operational Design Domains (ODD) is the correct technical approach to evaluate real-world system performance safely. However, limiting initial deployments exclusively to select eastern counties leaves out crucial regional economic hubs. I urge you to introduce or support an amendment to expand the operational scope of this legislation—or author a companion pilot framework—to explicitly include Monroe County. Monroe County presents an ideal, highly rigorous environment for commercial and technological AV pilot validation, offering: Diverse Infrastructure and Operational Design Domains (ODD): A comprehensive mix of urban core corridors, suburban transit routes, and major freight highways (such as I-90 and I-490) to test system routing, sensor fusion, and localization under varied road geometries. Environmental and Weather Diversity: Robust seasonal variability, including severe winter weather and low-visibility atmospheric conditions, which are essential for stress-testing sensor suites (LiDAR, radar, optical perception engines) and dynamic motion control safety fallbacks. Technical and Academic Ecosystem: Proximity to world-class academic research institutes and technological innovation centers positioned to collaborate on autonomous software validation, workforce transition metrics, and regional transit optimization. Establishing clear, safe regulatory parameters for autonomous vehicle testing while expanding regional access to Western New York will drive technical growth and ensure Monroe County is not left behind in modern transportation infrastructure. Thank you for your time, consideration, and continued leadership on transportation and technical policy for our state