Transportation agencies in Georgia and South Carolina are rolling out new projects to improve how people get around.
The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has been approved to lead a new multi-state research project focused on connected vehicle technology, according to the agency.
The project, called the Vehicle to Everything Pooled Fund Study, unites transportation agencies from across North America to study how vehicles can talk to each other and to roads using wireless technology. This system, known as V2X, is meant to make driving safer, help traffic move more smoothly, and support self-driving features by sharing information in real time.
GDOT says the study officially launched Jan. 1, 2026, and currently includes 20 state transportation departments and Transport Canada. Together, participating agencies have committed $3.125 million, with additional states expected to join.
The initiative is part of the Transportation Pooled Fund Program, a federal program that allows agencies to combine funding and expertise to address shared transportation challenges. By working collaboratively, agencies can pursue research that would be difficult to accomplish independently.
Georgia DOT’s Division of Permits and Operations is overseeing the study. Division Director Alan Davis said the effort will help agencies keep pace with fast-changing technology.
“The V2XPFS will enable collaborative research to address the rapidly evolving needs of connected vehicle technologies across the nation,” Davis said in the news release.
GDOT is partnering with Georgia Southern University to help administer the program. Seungmo Kim, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the university, has been named director of the study.
“As Georgia DOT’s academic partner, Georgia Southern University is proud to take on this important role and looks forward to earning national recognition for advancing transportation research,” Kim said.
Federal Highway Administration liaison Marissa Migliore emphasized the importance of cooperation among agencies.
“The V2XPFS brings together funding and expertise from state, local, and federal partners to accelerate infrastructure solutions for connected transportation,” Migliore said. “Engaging directly with agency stakeholders is one of the most rewarding aspects of this work.”
According to Georgia DOT, the study group will meet virtually each month and hold in-person meetings twice a year. The first in-person meeting is scheduled for mid-May 2026 in Salt Lake City and will be hosted by the Utah Department of Transportation.
South Carolina Surveys Communities on Bridge Replacements
Meanwhile, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is asking residents to provide feedback on plans to replace six bridges across several counties.
The agency has launched an online survey to gather community input about how the projects could affect local travel, according to SCDOT. The bridges are in Aiken, Bamberg, Orangeburg, Richland and Sumter counties and are part of what the agency calls Bridge Package 24.
The survey asks residents how often they use the bridges and invites them to review proposed detour routes that would be used during construction. SCDOT says public feedback will help guide early design and construction planning.
The bridges included in the survey are:
SCDOT grouped the projects together to speed up replacement and improve efficiency. According to the agency, each bridge has at least one component in poor condition, and the goal is to restore them to good condition.
Residents can submit survey responses and comments through March 3, 2026, through the online survey or the project website, where additional details about Bridge Package 24 are available.
Send your comments to Michael Pitts at SCDOT by mail at 955 Park Street, Columbia, SC 29201, by phone at (803) 737-2566, or by email at [email protected]
The projects in Georgia and South Carolina show how state transportation agencies are balancing new technology with keeping roads and bridges safe and reliable for the communities that use them every day.
