Maricopa County Department Of Transportation

Connected Vehicle Technology

INNOVATIONS

OF THE WORLD

FOR TODAY'S BIG THINKERS

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The Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is helping to change the way the Phoenix Metropolitan area travels. We are continuously looking for ways to provide the connections that improve peoples’ lives.

Jennifer Toth, MCDOT Director and County Engineer, speaking about the future of transportation with connected vehicle technology

To accomplish that, MCDOT:

• Plans for the future
• Designs a seamless transportation system
• Builds a connected community
• Maintains the county’s transportation assets
• Operates transportation systems to reduce your travel time

MCDOT uses intelligent transportation systems to reduce commutes and connect vehicles to traffic signals to improve safety. We also believe in innovative government by creating partnerships with other public and private entities to maximize our infrastructure investments.

In Arizona, there is a vehicle collision every four minutes and roughly every four days one of those collisions involves a fire truck or ambulance.1 What if fire trucks and ambulances could talk to traffic signals to reduce vehicle collisions? And, what if cars could talk to traffic signals to get you home from work quicker?

Faisal Saleem, the MCDOT SMARTDrive ProgramSM Manager, explaining how connected vehicle technology works

Today, we know that this technology is not only possible, but that it exists in the Phoenix metropolitan area. But a little more than 10 years ago, it was just an idea.This idea is what brought the teams from the Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), the University of Arizona (U of A), the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) together to form the Arizona Connected Vehicle Coalition.

This coalition led the effort to develop, research, test and launch technology at the connected vehicle test bed in Anthem, Arizona. This test bed and the associated technology now form what is known as the MCDOT SMARTDrive ProgramSM.

A program that leads the nation in the development of connected vehicle technology.“The opportunities for improved safety and mobility are endless using connected vehicle technology”, said Jennifer Toth, MCDOT’s Director and County Engineer.

“Based upon the principles of vehicle prioritization, connected vehicle technology assigns a priority ranking to vehicles to improve safety and traffic flow. This priority is communicated between vehicles and traffic signals via wireless radios. Imagine an ambulance and a fire truck arriving at an intersection at the same time. Who has the right of way?

The MCDOT SMARTDrive ProgramSM Test Bed in Anthem, Arizona

With connected vehicle technology, a priority is assigned to each vehicle and communicated to them reducing the possibility of a collision. As we enter a time when both automated and traditional vehicles will be sharing the same roads, connected vehicle technology provides a common language for all to communicate with the roadway infrastructure.

”For example, we have tested a smart phone app to help pedestrians request more time at crosswalks and we have also developed a prototype application to provide in-vehicle construction zone information to freight trucks.

This technology will also be incorporated into an upcoming valley-wide project to improve traffic flow along Loop 101. The Loop 101 Mobility Project, led by ADOT and MCDOT, will be made possible by an FHWA grant aimed at developing technology to decrease congestion and improve safety in the Phoenix metro area.

MCDOT’s connected vehicle experts have shared how connected vehicle technology can transform traffic operations across the world. Additionally, transportation leaders have traveled to our test bed to experience this revolutionary technology in action.

Team members monitor traffic signal and connected vehicle data

Recent visitors from the Universal Traffic Management Systems Society of Japan and the National Police Agency of Japan marveled at the capability of this technology and how it “has great potential to contribute to the future mobility (of all traffic).

” The MCDOT SMARTDrive ProgramSM provides an opportunity to test connected vehicle innovations in a real world microcosm, leading to fewer vehicle crashes. According to USDOT projections, connected vehicle technology has the potential to reduce crashes by 80 percent when drivers are not impaired. Imagine a world disrupted by safety.

With this innovation, it is possible.1 Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2017,https://www.azdot.gov/docs/default-source/mvd-services/2017-crash-facts.pdf

Daisy Mountain Fire Department participates in a connected vehicle demonstration

Why Phoenix?

Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, is currently the fastest growing county in the nation and with good reason! The weather is fantastic, the transportation system is strong and the business environment is friendly. Additionally, government and businesses alike value collaboration and innovation making Maricopa County attractive for businesses.

Advice & Best Practices

1. Build partnerships to collaborate – more people can bring more ideas
2. Adopt a start-up mentality – Brainstorm, Research, Develop, Test, Evaluate, Launch, Repeat
3. Take risks – You miss 100 percent of the opportunities you do not take

Other INNOVATE® Ecosystems