Transportation Agencies in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan form ‘Smart Belt Coalition’ to Collaborate on Automated, Connected Vehicles

Transportation Agencies in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan form 'Smart Belt
Coalition' to Collaborate on Automated, Connected Vehicles

1/17/2017-HARRISBURG

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Pennsylvania
Turnpike Commission (PTC) have formed the Smart Belt Coalition – a
first-of-its-kind collaboration – with transportation agencies in Ohio and
Michigan that will focus on automated and connected vehicle initiatives.

The coalition, which includes transportation and academic partners, brings
together leaders on these technologies to support research, testing,
policy,
funding pursuits and deployment, as well as share data and provide unique
opportunities for private-sector testers.

"I'm excited for us to continue our efforts in fostering safe and effective

development of this technology," PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said.

"This multi-state partnership not only offers fantastic collaboration
opportunities, but will also bring some consistency to testing scenarios
that
will help the private sector as they develop these technologies."

While coalition membership may expand in the future, participating agencies
and
universities include:
• Pennsylvania: PennDOT, PTC and Carnegie Mellon University;
• Michigan: Michigan Department of Transportation and University of
Michigan;
and
• Ohio: Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure

Commission, The Ohio State University and Transportation Research Center.

"This new coalition recognizes that automated and connected vehicle
initiatives
transcend state boundaries and spur emerging technologies," PTC CEO Mark
Compton said. "Working together, we will be able to more effectively
advance
these emerging technologies for all motorists."

With similar climates, commercial truck traffic and active work on these
technologies in the participating states, the coalition will be a resource
for
transportation stakeholders and the private sector alike. The coalition is
developing its strategic plan which initially focuses on:
• Connected and automated applications in work zones, including uniform
work-zone scenarios offering consistency for testers as well as
technologies
offering better information to motorists.
• Commercial freight opportunities in testing, including platooning
(connecting
more than one vehicle) and potential coordination on interstates.
• Incident management applications providing better information to and
infrastructure for emergency responders and other agencies.

"We look forward to this real-world test bed to further our research in the

safe deployment of connected and automated technology and its associated
policies," said Carnegie Mellon Professor Raj Rajkumar.

Moving forward, the coalition will finalize a strategic plan outlining the
framework for participants and opportunities for private-sector testers.

The coalition is the latest example of Pennsylvania's commitment to safe
and
innovative development of these technologies and complements the Autonomous

Vehicle Policy Task Force, which is chaired by PennDOT. Learn more about
the
task force, which includes government, academic and private-sector members,
at
www.penndot.gov under "Projects & Programs" and then "Research and
Testing."


MEDIA CONTACT: Erin Waters-Trasatt, PennDOT, 717-783-8800
Rosanne Placey, PTC, 717-831-7507

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