I N N O V A T E
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The MCDOT SMARTDrive ProgramSM Test Bed in Anthem, Arizona
Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Radio Unit installed on an intersection luminaire
P H O E N I X
Team members monitor traffic signal and connected vehicle data
Daisy Mountain Fire Department participates in a connected vehicle demonstration
Preliminary tests indicate bus travel times can be decreased by 15 percent while using connected vehicle technology
Why Phoenix?
an upcoming valley-wide project to improve traffic flow along Loop 101. The Loop 101 Mobility Project, led by ADOT and MCDOT, will be made possible by an FHWA grant aimed at developing technology to decrease congestion and improve safety in the Phoenix metro area. MCDOT’s connected vehicle experts have shared how connected vehicle technology can transform traffic operations across the world. Additionally, transportation leaders have traveled to our test bed to experience this revolutionary technology in action. Recent visitors from the Universal Traffic Management Systems Society of Japan and the National Police Agency of Japan marveled at the capability of this technology and how it “has great potential to contribute to the future mobility (of all traffic).” The MCDOT SMARTDrive ProgramSM provides an opportunity to test connected vehicle innovations in a real world microcosm, leading to fewer vehicle crashes. According to USDOT projections, connected vehicle technology has the potential to reduce crashes by 80 percent when drivers are not impaired. Imagine a world disrupted by safety. With this innovation, it is possible.
Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, is currently the fastest growing county in the nation and with good reason! The weather is fantastic, the transportation system is strong and the business environment is friendly. Additionally, government and businesses alike value collaboration and innovation making Maricopa County attractive for businesses.
Advice & Best Practices 1. Build partnerships to collaborate – more people can bring more ideas 2. Adopt a start-up mentality – Brainstorm, Research, Develop, Test, Evaluate, Launch, Repeat 3. Take risks – You miss 100 percent of the opportunities you do not take
Arizona Department of Transportation. Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts 2017, https://www.azdot.gov/docs/default-source/mvd-services/2017-crash-facts.pdf
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