Via USDOT press release

The USDOT has released four new reports highlighting its latest research initiatives and findings related to intelligent transportation systems (ITS):

• Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program Phase 1: Participant Training and Stakeholder Education Plan - Tampa (THEA) (FHWA-JPO-16-318): This is a high-level plan for recruiting and training automobile drivers, pedestrians, transit drivers, traffic management center operators, and technicians participating in the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment. The plan describes how THEA will recruit pilot participants; obtain the informed consent of those participants; train participants to safely use and maintain pilot-related technology; train transit drivers; communicate with participants; and train participating personnel to install, document, operate, maintain, and replace all hardware and software necessary for the pilot. 

• Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program Phase 1: Outreach Plan - Tampa (THEA) (FHWA-JPO-16-320): This document presents an outreach plan for the THEA Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment. The goal of the pilot deployment is to advance and enable safe, interoperable, networked wireless communications among vehicles, infrastructure, and personal communications devices to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, and decrease emissions. The pilot deployment is proceeding in three phases: (1) concept development; (2) design, implementation, and testing; and (3) operation, maintenance, impact assessment, and performance measurement. 

• Connected Vehicle Impacts on Transportation Planning: Outreach to Planning Community (FHWA-JPO-16-413): This document presents outreach memos on 11 case studies analyzing the impacts of connected and automated vehicles on transportation planning products. Each memo contains a summary of key messages for transportation planners and a high-level account of the most significant impacts of connected and automated vehicles on that particular transportation-planning product. The principal objective of the case study research was to comprehensively assess how connected vehicles should be considered across the range of transportation planning processes and products developed by states, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and local agencies throughout the country. The outreach memos/case studies included are: 1) Transportation Improvement Program; 2) Statewide ITS Architecture; 3) Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning; 4) Long-Range Metropolitan Transportation Plan; 5) Transportation Asset Management Plan; 6) Strategic Highway Safety Plan; 7) State Implementation Plan; 8) Transit Development Plan; 9) Public Involvement Plan; 10) Freight Plan; and 11) Financial Plan.

• Connected Vehicle Impacts on Transportation Planning Primer (FHWA-JPO-16-420): The principal objective of this project, "Connected Vehicle Impacts on Transportation Planning," is to assess how connected vehicles should be considered across the range of transportation planning processes and products developed by states, MPOs, and local agencies throughout the country. This report summarizes the results and recommendations of the study. It also provides planners with information on how to begin to address the impacts of connected and automated vehicle technology in their work. The primer describes the technologies and their potential impacts. Impacts are identified as short-term (0 to 5 years), medium-term (5 to 20 years), or long-term (over 20 years). Impacts are then further examined in a series of case studies designed to help planners incorporate these technologies into their planning products. The final chapter includes a summary of current connected vehicle training programs and their approach to stakeholder outreach. The primer concludes with recommendations for new and enhanced training programs.

• Connected Vehicle Impacts on Transportation Planning - Desk Reference (FHWA-JPO-16-421): This desk reference is designed to help transportation professionals quickly understand and begin planning for the wide variety of impacts that connected and automated vehicle technology is expected to have on transportation planning products and processes. It summarizes and illustrates the connections between two key analyses conducted by the project: 1) a connected and automated vehicle impact typology that identified how this technology can be considered in transportation planning processes and products under a variety of circumstances; and 2) a series of case studies based on real-world planning products and environments. The reference includes a brief summary of connected vehicle technology, a description of key elements, and a series of tables that allows users to identify which specific impacts are most likely to occur. 

To learn more about the ITS JPO's research, please visit: www.its.dot.gov.