The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration recently announced a $20 million grant to Utah as part of its “Saving Lives and Connectivity: Accelerating V2X Deployment” program. This initiative aims to improve vehicle technologies specifically for snow plows, public transportation buses, and other government-operated vehicles. The technology being used can direct traffic lights to change, enhancing safety and travel time for drivers.
Utah will receive $20 million of the $60 million total grant, with the remaining $40 million going to Texas and Arizona. The goal is to connect vehicles and infrastructure to leverage technology for improved safety outcomes. Shailen Bhatt, the US Federal Highway Administrator, commended Utah’s Department of Transportation for being a leader in this area.
The grant money will fund projects in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming, each representing different population densities and transportation systems. Bhatt emphasized the importance of protecting personal private information when utilizing this technology. Basic safety messages (DSM) are exchanged between vehicles and intersections, providing anonymous data on approaching vehicles and traffic light statuses.
In Salt Lake City, where the technology is already in use, improvements in travel time reliability and bus performance have been observed. Bhatt highlighted the positive impact of deploying technology in reducing crashes, congestion, travel times, and greenhouse gas emissions. He expressed anticipation for further investments based on data collected from the initial deployment.
