This week, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced its first-ever, statewide Strategic Plan for Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) to support emerging transportation technology and mobility trends.
Specifically, the plan outlines strategies for advancing multimodal CAV-related services and infrastructure to address both current and evolving transportation needs. The strategic plan explores ways connected and autonomous vehicles or CAV technologies could become a powerful tool in helping meet key CTDOT goals to improve safety; enhance mobility, accessibility, and reliability; reduce congestion; support infrastructure state of good repair; provide efficiencies; reduce vehicle emissions; and support economic growth.
“Over the next few decades, advancing CAV technologies has the potential to drastically change mobility and our transportation systems in Connecticut and across the country” CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti said in a statement. “As innovation around these technologies continues to develop at a fast pace, we’re focused on ways Connecticut can benefit, especially with the potential for CAV to dramatically improve transportation safety.”
CTDOT says in a typical year in Connecticut, over 100,000 vehicle crashes, more than 30,000 injuries, and more than 250 deaths are the result of human error.
In the near-term (2021-2025), CTDOT will focus actions on the multiple facets of CAV technologies where there are significant advancements by both industry and public sector. This includes activities such as deploying pilot projects, early policy coordination and development, assessments of workforce and infrastructure readiness, and other activities.
In the long-term (beyond 2025), CTDOT says the agency will maintain a timely feedback loop to adapt and engage with the pace of advancements in CAV technologies, policies, and readiness. CTDOT will also look for opportunities to implement infrastructure programs and services at larger scale to support advances in CAV technologies, subject to CTDOT’s own capabilities, available funding, national standards and policies, technology readiness, and market penetration.
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SOURCE: Connecticut DOT
