Cooperative Transportation Systems 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, connected vehicle technology will allow the components to “work” actively together – creating Cooperative Transportation Systems. This provides the potential for reduction in congestion, safety improvements, and improved traveler services. In order to realize this potential, Cooperative Transportation Systems will require unprecedented collaboration between the private and public sectors, on a scale not required in the current loosely coupled system. As owners and operators of the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure, state and local transportation agencies are at the core of Cooperative Transportation Systems. 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). To guide transportation agency involvement in Cooperative Transportation Systems deployment, AASHTO developed a strategic plan. It identified a need to develop a deployment plan and business plan that will aid the owners and operators in the nationwide deployment of the connected vehicle infrastructure. It also identified the need for infrastructure providers to conduct research to develop applications that will make full use of Cooperative Transportation capabilities. With this background, the pooled fund study entitled “Program to Support the Development and Deployment of Cooperative Transportation Systems Applications” was created by a group of state and local transportation agencies and FHWA in order to provide a means to conduct the work necessary for infrastructure providers to play a leading role in advancing the Cooperative Transportation Systems.

Through a set of pooled fund studies, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is working with federal, state and local departments of transportation, to establish a multi-phase program to facilitate the field demonstration, and deployment of Connected Transportation Systems infrastructure applications. In Phase I, the participants are focused on modeling, development, engineering and planning activities that will aid transportation agencies in justifying and promoting the large scale deployment of Connected Transportation Systems. Phase 2, of the program will continue research and development to prepare agencies to deploy connected vehicle environments.

The pooled fund study will focus on the following: • Development and evaluation of Connected Transportation Systems large-scale system level operations applications • Independently research and address issues that will affect the deployment of Connected Vehicle systems by state and local transportation agencies • Support AASHTO’s Strategic and Deployment Plans • Support USDOT’s Connected Vehicles Programs and initiatives

VDOT agrees to provide $75,000 per year for the program. Other participating organizations will be asked to contribute at least $50,000 per year. State DOT’s who find that the full $50,000 contribution from their State Planning and Research (SP&R) allocation is a hardship, may join by contributing a fair share. Fair shares would be determined based on the percentage of the annual SP&R funds for the state, so that small states are not unfairly burdened.