MCDOT SMARTDrive Program

About the Program

Category: Transportation (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) “Connected Vehicles” initiative is developing vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications to improve surface transportation safety and mobility. The Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and its partners, are moving this initiative forward to develop and demonstrate advanced ITS applications that integrate vehicles together with Systematically Managed ARTerial (SMART) roadway systems in Maricopa County. In 2011, the MCDOT SMARTDrive Program was launched to demonstrate the connected vehicle capabilities, evaluate the benefits, and provide a test bed for arterial connected vehicle applications development and testing. Through this Program, MCDOT implemented a 2.3-mile arterial test bed along Daisy Mountain Drive in Anthem, Arizona in Maricopa County. The first goal of the program is to develop and test advanced technologies and integrate roadway systems with emergency responder vehicles to improve emergency response to traffic incidents as well as enhance responder safety. The second goal is to develop a comprehensive traffic signal system that provides intelligent priority to multiple modes of transportation, including general vehicles, transit, emergency vehicles, freight fleets and pedestrians. Through the program MCDOT has successfully designed and implemented the test bed and it is the first agency in the nation to have demonstrated the multi-modal intelligent priority system.