Lets see. Since we do have members here that want to be recognized, introduced, different ones, and i happen to be one of those, i think we might go ahead before Opening Statements and do that before we lose someone. So i would like to go ahead. We already know Lieutenant General todd simonite. This is your third time here . Yes, sir. Youre a regular here. I recognize at this time senator cardin to recognize pete ron, to introduce. Thank you very much. It is a pleasure to have secretary ron here before our committee. Secretary ron is the secretary of the of transportation in maryland. As i was telling the chairman, this is the third state that he has been secretary of transportation. Hes also directed the Missouri Department of transportation and new mexico state highway and transportation department. He just cant hold on to a job. [ laughter ] but were very proud of the work that he does in maryland. We have a pretty challenging organization in maryland where the secretary of transpor
Lets see. Since we do have members here that want to be recognized, introduced, different ones, and i happen to be one of those, i think we might go ahead before Opening Statements and do that before we lose someone. So i would like to go ahead. We already know Lieutenant General todd simonite. This is your third time here . Yes, sir. Youre a regular here. I recognize at this time senator cardin to recognize pete ron, to introduce. Thank you very much. It is a pleasure to have secretary ron here before our committee. Secretary ron is the secretary of the of transportation in maryland. As i was telling the chairman, this is the third state that he has been secretary of transportation. Hes also directed the Missouri Department of transportation and new mexico state highway and transportation department. He just cant hold on to a job. [ laughter ] but were very proud of the work that he does in maryland. We have a pretty challenging organization in maryland where the secretary of transpor
Infrastructure funding. And in land waterways have the impact of the panama canal expansion on us ports. It is an hour and 45 minutes. [inaudible conversations] the meeting will come to order. And i happen to be one of those. And i recognize that this time, senator cardin. And introduce pleasure to have secretary ron here before the committee. Secretary ron, secretary of transportation in maryland. As i was telling as a chairman, this is the third state, secretary of transportation. Department of transportation and new mexico state highway and transportation, cant hold onto a job. Very proud of the work in maryland. And the organization in maryland with the secretary of transportation is responsible for coordinating modes of transportation. Mister ron has done an outstanding job in directing that department, very large budget. He also served as american state transportation officials, 20072008 and national leadership, proud to have him before the committee. Very good. Recognize senator
Connected vehicles or autonomous selfdriving vehicles. Department of transportation thinks of this as connected automation. Its really both. They both give you sort of added safety. Connected vehicles or basically v to v, vehicle to vehicle, vehicle to infrastructure, v to x or anything else, basically theyre all going to be able to talk. What we know is studies so far suggest that even two applications of v to v could prevent 600,000 crashes and save 1,000 lives. So it has huge opportunity overall. Potentially 80 of crashes that dont involve an impaired driver could be prevented with v to v. So we have actually introduced a rule making which has been accepted by omb for review just to try to set up a consistent piece of equipment that would be used for the whole system in the United States. Okay. When do you anticipate this being online . Or you know, are constituents the availability. Give me a timeline on that. Right now its been accepted by omb as under review. Thats kind of where