The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has awarded two contracts to one of the world’s leading multidisciplinary consultancies for the development of connected vehicle initiatives throughout the state.
With multiple vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) projects taking place across Michigan, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff (WSP-PB) will become the on-call consultant for MDOT’s statewide connected vehicle program for a period of three years, providing services such as planning and strategy development, design and deployment of foundational system elements, public outreach and progress reporting, and the development of industry partnerships. WSP-PB will also act as MDOT’s prime consultant, which will entail the company conducting the planning, design, deployment and systems integration for the connected vehicle infrastructure that the agency is deploying in southeast Michigan. The infrastructure includes dedicated short-range communications roadside units, associated backhaul communications infrastructure, and integration with back-office systems to support data collection and message development and broadcasting.
In addition to providing guidance to decision makers on policy, and the management and implementation of connected and automated vehicle technology, WSP-PB offers specialized expertise in the engineering and deployment of roadside infrastructure that communicates with connected vehicles. The consultancy will be assisting MDOT on the southeast Michigan Connected Vehicle Environment initiative, which will include the testing of four initial pilot V2I applications: red light violation warning, work zone warning and management, road weather management, and pavement condition.
WSP-PB will advise on the architecture of the network linking the RSUs, Southeast Michigan Transportation Operations Center, the DUAP Server, the Situation Data Clearinghouse, and the Security Credential Management System. The two contracts are an important gain for the consultancy, as Michigan boasts the largest deployment of freeway and surface street V2I technology in the USA. MDOT expects 120 miles (193km) of a technology-enabled ‘smart corridor’ will span I-96, I-696, I-94 and US-23, and future deployments on I-69 and I-75 will broaden the scope of its testing capabilities.
Highlighting the state’s leading role in the automotive technology industry, this week Governor Rick Snyder announced a new campaign, Planet M, which has been created to elevate Michigan as the hub of mobility innovations, leading to more business investment and jobs in the state. The campaign’s tagline, ‘Michigan. Where big ideas in mobility are born’, summarizes Snyder’s mission to grow high-profile business sectors, including the technologies and services that will enable Michigan to be the leader in the reinvention of transportation industry.
Launching the campaign at the Mackinac Policy Conference, Snyder said, “Planet M represents Michigan’s future as a leader in mobility and the innovations that will continue to attract investment in our state. Michigan has always been the automotive industry leader, and as the transportation industry evolves, our state’s influence will continue to shape the way the world moves.”
