A vehicle to everything (V2X) environment holds the potential to support a fundamental advance in surface transportation. While the vehicle component and infrastructure component of the transportation system have traditionally been only loosely coupled (through static signing, vehicle presence detectors, etc.), connected vehicle technologies will allow the components to “work” actively together – creating a fully connected vehicles and infrastructure environment. This provides the potential for substantial safety improvements, reduction in congestion and improvement in safety and environment, resulting in improved traveler services. In order to realize this potential, a connected vehicles system and environment will require unprecedented collaboration between the private and public sectors, on a scale not required in the current loosely coupled system. 

To date, the national United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Connected Vehicle initiative has focused largely on “how” to technically accomplish the integration. A considerable amount of solid technical work at the local, state and national level has been devoted to developing communications standards (e.g., Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) or Cellular Vehicle – to – everything (CV2X)), developing and deploying field equipment for small-scale prototype/proof-of-concept testing, and high-level conceptual development.

As owners and operators of the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure, state and local transportation agencies are at the core of the connected vehicle infrastructure. While automakers and device manufacturers will dictate availability of vehicular equipment, transportation agencies will control the deployment and operation of roadside infrastructure and the incorporation of connected vehicle technologies into infrastructure applications (such as traffic signal control). There have been multiple projects and efforts by many standards development organizations to advance the availability and interoperability of V2X. USDOT has also produced guidance documents for deploying and supporting connected vehicle technology. While great strides have been made over the last decade, it is clear that additional research is still needed to develop, field-test, and perform technology transfer for applications that will make full use of the connected vehicle environment.

 
The V2X Pooled Fund Study (V2XPFS) (successor to the Connected Vehicle Pooled Fund Study) acts as a continuation of the Research Program to Support the Research, Development, and Deployment of System Operations Applications of Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) (TPF-5(389)). TPF-5(389) was a continuation of TPF-5(206) which was initiated in 2009 and was active for nearly 10 years. During that time, the program has been successful in its pursuit to provide technology transfer to aid transportation agencies and OEMs in justifying and promoting the connected vehicle environment and applications through modeling, development, engineering and planning activities. As of May 2018, eleven research projects have been completed and four additional projects are currently underway. The new CV PFS will continue the work of TPF-5(389) after that project ends.

• To provide technology transfer to state, local, and international transportation agencies as well as vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in preparing for the deployment of connected vehicle infrastructure and to provide input to the AASHTO, SAE, ITE, and ITS America, various working groups and cohorts organized around V2X, USDOT V2X Program, and other national initiatives. 

• To establish a multi-phase program to facilitate research, field demonstration, evaluation, and technology transfer of connected vehicle infrastructure, vehicles, and applications. 

• To aid transportation agencies and OEMs in justifying and promoting the large-scale use of connected vehicle environment and applications through modeling, development, engineering, and planning activities.