b'1bus corridor and some of our snowplow routes. Although the plow system UTAHS FIRSTdidnt become operational until March and was only used in one or two THE FUTURElate-season storms, our snowplow drivers felt it helped them move more quickly and efficiently through the corridor.GLIMPSE ATIS NOW. WE HAVE TO From my perspective, I see three great messages in this first-of-its-kind BEGIN TO PLAN FOR IT AND IMPLEMENTconnected and automated vehicle (CAV) deployment. The first message TRANSPORTATIONSIT AS SOON ASissimplythis:thefutureisnow.Transportationprofessionalscanno THE OPPORTUNITYlonger afford to think of CAV technology as something that lives in a theoretical future. It is happening now, and we have to begin to plan for it EXCITING FUTURE PRESENTS ITSELF. and implement it as soon as the opportunity presents itself.Second, I believe that transit is part of the answer to almost any question 2 you ask about future transportation. Anything we can do to help make transit more effective and more useful benefits all of us. We have to think BY CARLOS BRACERAS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,about moving people, not just vehicles. And transit has to be part of the UTAH DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION long-term solution to the transportation challenges we face today.For years, those of us who work in the transportation industry have beenTRANSIT IS PARTAnd finally, I love how this deployment of CAV technology improves the talkingaboutourconnected-autonomousfutureandwhatsignificantOF THE ANSWERquality of life in the area. By helping buses run more closely on time and differences that technology will make in terms of safety, mobility, and theTO ALMOST ANYallowing snowplows to move through important transportation corridors contributions our industry makes to the life quality of the people who liveQUESTION YOU ASKmore efficiently, we are making life better and safer for people. When it in the communities we serve. ABOUT FUTUREcomes right down to it, that should be the thing that drives us. It isnt TRANSPORTATION. about technology for technologys sake. Nor is it about collaboration as a Here in Utah, we have taken a real-world glimpse at that exciting future,tactical tool, although that is an important element of our transportation and we have to tell you, it looks incredible! future, to be sure. Its about improving life quality for the people we serve and helping make the communities in which we all live safer and more We recently partnered with the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) to launch the3 proficiently mobile.nations first operational deployment of a new wireless connected vehicle technology using designated short range communications (DSRC) radiosThat is what makes the future of transportation look so incredible. For all and the Multi-Modal Intelligent Traffic Signal System (MMITSS), designedof us.specifically to help UTA buses traveling along a designated stretch ofCAV TECHNOLOGY Redwood Road in the western Salt Lake Valley arrive on time. IMPROVES THE The corridor is about 11 miles long with 30 signalized intersections, 25QUALITY OF LIFE IN of which were chosen for the installation of DSRC radios. When one ofTHE AREA.these intersections is approached by a UTA bus that is also equipped with DSRC capability, the bus and the traffic signals can effectively talk to each other, facilitating on-the-fly adjustments to signal timing that gives priority to buses that are behind schedule. This helps them make up for any lost time and get closer to their published schedule.The entire process is completely autonomousthat is, no action is required on the part of the bus driver. The signals are connected throughCARLOS M. BRACERAS was appointed as the executive director of UDOT by Governor Gary the Utah Department of Transportations (UDOT) fiber-optic network, soHerbert on May 6, 2013. In this capacity, he is responsible for UDOTs more than 1,600 employees engineers in the departments Traffic Operations Center can monitor theandthedesign,construction,andmaintenanceofUtahs6,000-milesystemofroadsand systems performance. highways. He recently launched a redefining of the departments goals and mission and oversaw the completion of several massive highway projects, including the Utah County I-15 Corridor And so far, the system is working very well. UTA reports better on-timeExpansion (I-15 CORE) and the Mountain View Corridor in west Salt Lake County. Both projects performance through the corridor. The system has expanded to anotherused innovative contracting methods that allowed each to be completed in record time.9'