SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — On Thursday, the Utah Department of Transportation received a $20 million grant to begin employing Vehicle-to-Everything — or V2X — technology in Utah.
According to UDOT, V2X technology “uses sensors and wireless connectivity so vehicles can connect and communicate with drivers and their surroundings to increase safety, mobility and efficiency on the road.”
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The grant — awarded by US Department of Transportation — should help UDOT, the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the Colorado Department of Transportation create a connected network that is seamless and reliable, UDOT said.
“Utah is a leader in promoting and deploying V2X technologies to explore the life-saving potential on our nation’s highways,” said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt.
According to UDOT, the grant was awarded on the same day that USDOT’s National V2X Deployment Plan was released.
“The funding provided today will help accelerate the technology so we can deploy it on a national scale and provide new tools to reduce the number of deaths on our nation’s highways,” Bhatt said.
What is vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology?
Officials said V2X technology will essentially help vehicles “talk” to each other and to road signs.
According to UDOT, the technology can help inform drivers about sharp turns, severe weather and road closures. V2X technology is also said to have the ability to prevent accidents by identifying the location of “vulnerable road users”.
In the Beehive State, the technology has already been installed along Redwood Road, making that road the first “operational connected vehicle corridor” in the country. Buses equipped with special radios can communicate with traffic lights along connected roads.
Connectivity between buses and roads means that “if the bus is running late, the signal can extend the duration of the green light – all without any action from the bus driver,” according to UDOT.
In the country’s 75 major metropolitan areas, USDOT’s goal is to have 25% of “signalized intersections” equipped with V2X technology.
In the Salt Lake City metro area, 20% of signals are already equipped with V2X technology, and UDOT said 96% of Utah’s traffic signals are connected to each other thanks to the state’s fiber optic network.
“With this technology, we will be able to save more lives faster,” said UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras. “We look forward to working with our partners as we expand this connected network beyond our state borders.”
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