GRIDFAST EXPRESS: ROADMAP AND ACTIONS TO ADDRESS KEY CHALLENGES TO THE UTILITY INTERCONNECTION PROCESS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO ESTABLISH A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL PROGRAM FOCUSED ON STREAMLINING THE UTILITY INTERCONNECTION PROCESS RELATED TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EVS) FOR BOTH AC LEVEL 2 AND DC FAST CHARGING TECHNOLOGIES AND WITH RESPECT TO OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: PROCESSING UTILITY SERVICE REQUESTS FOR CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, RESOURCES FOR FRONT-LINE UTILITY STAFF, RESOURCES FOR PROSPECTIVE SITE HOSTS, EQUITY & ENERGY JUSTICE, AND WORKFORCE & TRAINING. OVERALL GOALS ARE TO ADVANCE APPROACHES AT SCALE TO REDUCE SOFT COSTS, SUPPORT ACCELERATED DEMAND FOR NEW EV CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PROMOTE INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN THE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS OF THE FUTURE.