CV Program

THEA CONNECTED VEHICLE PILOT

The THEA Connected Vehicle Pilot Program aims to transform the experience of drivers, transit riders, and pedestrians in downtown Tampa by preventing crashes, enhancing traffic flow, improving transit trip times, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The program began in 2015 when the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) designated THEA as a test bed for CV technology. The Pilot implemented connected vehicle (CV) technology in real-life scenarios using the Selmon Expressway as a living lab for testing, culminating in a collaboration between Honda, Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc., and Toyota Motor North America. This industry-wide collaboration is among the first of its kind, where auto manufacturers joined in deploying vehicles with CV technology to provide the next evolution of delivering safer transportation.

Data demonstrated that the THEA CV Pilot prevented 21 potential pedestrian crashes, delivered 19 red light violation warnings, avoided 17 potential vehicle collisions, alerted 14 wrong-way drivers, and issued over 20,000 safety advisories.

THEA will continue its efforts to advance Selmon Expressway and implement intelligent transportation systems. The Pilot's collected data will also be utilized to leverage existing technology on the I-4 Frame in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) in a $43 million program budgeted over the next six years.