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Midwest Leaders Talk Autonomous Vehicles And Their Potential Impact Among Local Communities

Maureen Westphal (at left), Ben Johnson (center) and Robbie Diamond joined Monday's show.
Evie Hemphill | St. Louis Public Radio

The idea of autonomous vehicles, or AVs, used to seem rather futuristic. But if the latest technological advancements and general cultural buzz about self-driving cars are any indication, AVs are moving ever closer to becoming everyday transportation reality along U.S. roadways.

What that shift could mean for all sorts of sectors and communities is on the minds of regional leaders who are gathering Tuesday for a town hall in St. Louis. The free event is aimed at fostering dialogue “about the full range of the impacts of AVs,” from workforce implications to environmental effects and more.

On Monday’s St. Louis on the Air, guest host Jim Kirchherr talked about it with Robbie Diamond, founder, president and CEO of Securing America’s Future Energy, also known as SAFE; Ben Johnson, BioSTL’s vice president of programs and chairman of the national Innovation Advocacy Council; and Maureen Westphal, executive director of the Partnership for Transportation Innovation and Opportunity.

Listen to the conversation:

Related Event
What: A Dialogue on Vehicle Automation and Community Impacts
When: 8:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Where: The MOTO Museum (3441 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103)

St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. “St. Louis on the Air” producers Alex Heuer, Evie Hemphill, Lara Hamdan and Jon Lewis give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.

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Evie was a producer for "St. Louis on the Air" at St. Louis Public Radio.