Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority Announces Last Call for Connected Vehicle Pilot Volunteers

October 23, 2018

Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority Announces Last Call for Connected Vehicle Pilot Volunteers

Tampa, FL. – The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) announced two December deadlines for local participation in the Tampa Connected Vehicle Pilot. December 2nd is the last day to schedule an appointment for equipment installation, with all final installations to be completed no later than December 14th.

In advance of the upcoming deadlines, THEA is extending the appointment window for equipment installations by adding evening appointments on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The equipment and installation are free of charge, and participants will receive a toll rebate on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway which can accumulate up to a maximum of $550 when the pilot ends on January 31, 2020.

THEA’s Connected Vehicle Pilot aims to demonstrate the safety, mobility and environmental benefits of connected vehicle technology. Tampa is one of only three locations selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation to take part in the Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program. The other two locations are New York City and the Wyoming Interstate 80 corridor. THEA’s Tampa project is unique in that it is the only CV pilot that involves local residents driving their own cars.

Connected vehicles can communicate with traffic signals in downtown Tampa and with each other – helping to prevent crashes and keep traffic moving. THEA has already equipped more than 800 participant cars with connected vehicle equipment for the pilot.

“As THEA’s Connected Vehicle Pilot moves into its next phase, the recruitment period is coming to a close,” said THEA Director of Public Affairs & Communications Sue Chrzan. “With only two months remaining, now is the time for local drivers to sign up and take part in a groundbreaking research project that will transform the transportation experience in our community.”

Drivers must meet certain criteria in order to participate. For example, they must be 18 years of age or older, own a car that is a 1996 model or newer, use the Selmon Expressway to commute into downtown, or simply drive in downtown Tampa on a regular basis. Area residents who are interested in participating or want to learn more about the Pilot project are encouraged to take the online prescreening questionnaire at www.TampaCVpilot.com to see if they are eligible.

ABOUT THEA:
A public agency led by local citizens and operating with no tax dollars, the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) provides safe, reliable and financially sustainable transportation services to the Tampa Bay region while reinvesting customer-based revenues back into the community. From being the owner and operator of the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway to offering real-time testing and showcasing of connected vehicle and autonomous vehicle technologies, to the designing and operating the world’s first reversible all-electronic toll road, THEA continues to drive the conversation on cutting-edge transportation solutions. For more information, visit www.tampa-xway.com.

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Download the THEA CV Pilot Press Release