• Subscribe
  • Magazine
  • 40 Under 40
  • Supplier's Directory
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
    1. Technology

    It’s Time to Invest in Connected Vehicle Technologies for Transit

    June 9, 2016
    The next evolution of technologies to transform public transportation will include connected vehicle technologies and applications.
    L P 2 123 5744bc4a4b446

    Public transit in the United States has seen some of its highest ridership numbers ever over the last several years, including a record high of 10.8 billion trips in 2014. An improving economy, continuing demographic changes favoring urbanization, and increasing demand for more diversified transportation options are likely factors driving these surging ridership levels. 

    Transit vehicles, although safe and environmentally friendly, typically log more vehicle-miles traveled than personal vehicles, exposing them to more safety-critical crash scenarios within urban environments, including vehicles turning right in front of occupied bus stops and bus-pedestrian and bus-bicycle collisions near intersections.

    One way to transform how transit vehicles travel on the roadway is to create a safe, interoperable wireless communications network that links vehicles with other vehicles, with the infrastructure, and with personal mobile devices. For instance, the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Connected Vehicle program enables vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) wireless communications and cellular networks that allow all equipped vehicles to directly communicate with one another — as well as with the infrastructure.

    A number of applications developed under the aegis of USDOT’s Connected Vehicle program (its.dot.gov/landing/cv.htm) illustrate the potential benefits this technology may have for the safety of transit vehicles, transit operators and their passengers. One such transit-related safety application is the pedestrian in crosswalk warning (PCW) application, which is aimed at reducing bus and pedestrian collisions. Another application is the vehicle turning right in front of bus warning (VTRW) application, which addresses collisions that occur when passenger vehicles attempt to pass and make a right turn in front of a bus that is stopped at a near-side bus stop. Resources and literature regarding connected vehicle research related to V2V can be found at its.dot.gov/safety/transit_v2v.htm, and information for V2I transit applications can be at its.dot.gov/safety/transit_v2i.htm.

    Demonstrations and deployments of such technology are in the works. Many may already be aware that the USDOT has selected a number of “Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment” sites, two of which (New York City and Tampa, Florida) plan to equip transit vehicles with connected vehicle technologies and applications. In addition, via two USDOT-sponsored projects, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority plans to deploy PCW at some high-volume pedestrian crossings and demonstrate a new application — transit stop pedestrian warning (TSPW) — that warns bus drivers and pedestrians of potential collisions at equipped bus stops.

    The rollout of connected vehicle applications will be a great opportunity for transit agencies in particular to realize a potentially significant return on investment, which may be accomplished through fewer crashes, more accessible travel and improved system performance. Environmental quality enhancements through decreased congestion may also be a significant result. To fully realize these vital outcomes, the next evolution of technologies for transit agencies will and should include connected vehicle technologies and applications. With the potential to help agencies save money through increased safety and improved mobility, the time is now for transit agencies to embrace and invest in connected vehicles.