On Thursday, April 12, representatives of 18 transportation agencies from across the United States were treated to a
demonstration of connected vehicle technology by the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) in Tampa, Florida.
Attendees rode in cars (shown at left) equipped with devices that “talk” to the roadway and other connected vehicles to help prevent crashes and keep traffic moving. The demonstration took place on the downtown end of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway’s Reversible Express Lanes (REL) (pictured at right), which were closed to traffic during the event. Some media coverage of the event can be seen at https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/cars-that-talk-to-each-other-coming-soon-to-tampa.
The visiting officials represented state departments of transportation of California,
Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and Wisconsin, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The officials were in Tampa for a meeting of the Transportation Management Center (TMC) Pooled Fund Study, a group that conducts TMC-related research, operational tests, technology transfer and training. Information about this group can be found at https://tmcpfs.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/.
THEA will be equipping approximately 1,600 privately owned automobiles with connected vehicle technology as one of the three U.S. jurisdictions participating in the U. S Department of Transportation (USDOT) Connected Vehicle (CV) Pilot program. The program aims to demonstrate the safety, mobility and environmental benefits of connected vehicle technology. The other two sites are New York City and the Interstate 80 corridor in the state of Wyoming. The THEA project is the only one that involves local residents driving their own cars. Volunteers’ automobiles will be able to communicate with downtown traffic and pedestrian signals to enhance safety, improve traffic flow and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) will also equip 10 buses and 10 TECO Line streetcars with the technology.
THEA is now recruiting volunteer drivers for the pilot. As an incentive, participating drivers will receive a 30 percent toll rebate on the REL, up to a maximum of $550.
For more information vist Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) Pilot. Photos by Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority
