Connected and Automated Vehicles

Outlined below is a description of various groups that the CTDOT is actively engaged with at the state, regional and national level to advance preparations for CAV.

American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (National)

The CTDOT is an active member of American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), which serves as a liaison between state departments of transportation around the country and the federal government. As an active member of AASHTO, staff across the CTDOT regularly participate in a variety of national committees, sub-committees, working groups and task forces on a range of issues to advance and promote IOO interests and needs in transportation, including CAV infrastructure, technology and policy, etc.

Through AASHTO, the CTDOT has been able to interact with other states, USDOT, other federal agencies, Congress and various industry groups to better understand, prepare for, and advocate IOO positions on a variety of proposed federal CAV laws, regulations, policies and guidelines. Moving forward, the CTDOT will continue to play an active role with AASHTO in promoting IOO interests and needs for CAV infrastructure, technology and policy at the national level.

Automated Vehicle Pooled Fund Study (National)

The Automated Vehicle Pooled Fund Study (AV PFS) is an AV research consortium, formed in 2020, comprised of state transportation agencies, led by Drive Ohio (a smart mobility organizational initiative within Ohio DOT). This pooled fund provides a means for state transportation agencies to independently research and address issues that will affect the deployment of AV systems on public roadways. Members of the AV PFS work with FHWA, the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and various industry groups to prepare for and research vehicle-roadway interactions, analyze data failures and mitigation methods, help to identify and define standards, and encourage AV interoperability across state borders.

In 2020, the CTDOT joined the AV PFS to expand the CTDOT’s general workforce knowledge and understanding of AV technologies, to work collaboratively with other states to address AV challenges and to ultimately better prepare multiple functional units across the CTDOT for pilot testing and deployment of AV systems in Connecticut. As both an IOO and a transit agency, the CTDOT provides a unique, multi-modal perspective to the AV PFS. The CTDOT will contribute staff time to actively participate in the AV PFS, especially in functional areas such as highway management, highway operations and maintenance, highway design, traffic engineering, planning, and transit. Increased participation in the AV PFS will better prepare multiple areas across the CTDOT for pilot testing and deployment of AV systems in Connecticut.

Connected Vehicle Pooled Fund Study (National)

The Connected Vehicle Pooled Fund Study (CV PFS) is a research consortium of local, state, national and international transportation agencies and IOOs led by the Virginia Department of Transportation that plays a leading public sector role in advancing CV systems. To date, more than half of the state transportation agencies around the country are members of the CV PFS, with active and financial participation from Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Transport Canada, several large engineering and research universities, consultants, vendors and many of the major automakers. Click here for a list and description of both current and completed projects sponsored by the CV PFS.

In 2018, the CTDOT joined the CV PFS to collaborate with other states who are more experienced working with CV technologies to improve the CTDOT’s knowledge and understanding of CV systems. The CTDOT will continue to participate and contribute additional staff time in functional areas, including, highway management, highway operations and maintenance, highway design, traffic engineering, planning, and transit. Increased participation in the CV PFS will better prepare multiple areas across the CTDOT for pilot testing and deployment of CV infrastructure in Connecticut.

Connecticut Automated Vehicle Legislative Task Force (State)

In 2017, the Connecticut Automated Vehicle Legislative Task Force was established by Connecticut’s AV law (Public Act 17-69). Per state statute, the AV Legislative Task Force is required to:

• Research and evaluate national AV related standards and guidelines
• Research and evaluate AV related laws, regulations and policies in other states
• Recommend how Connecticut should legislate and regulate AV in Connecticut
• Assess the progress of and make recommendations for pilot testing AV in Connecticut
• Develop reports to the Connecticut General Assembly publishing its findings

The CTDOT currently serves as a member of the Connecticut AV Legislative Task Force. In addition to the CTDOT, the other members include representation from the Office of Policy and Management (OPM), Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Connecticut Insurance Department (CID), the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), nine individuals appointed by members of the Connecticut General Assembly with varying professional backgrounds and two individuals appointed by the Governor, one with expertise in insurance.

The CTDOT will continue working with the other AV Legislative Task Force members to recommend specific updates to Connecticut’s existing AV statutes. The updated framework will provide a higher-level process for safe and efficient pilot testing and operating AV in Connecticut that is more consistent with national best practices.

Cooperative Automated Transportation Coalition (National)

The Cooperative Automated Transportation Coalition (CAT Coalition) serves as a collaborative focal point for federal, state and local government officials, academia, industry and their related associations to address critical program and technical issues associated with the nationwide deployment of CAV on streets and highways. The CAT Coalition’s nation-wide membership includes representation from IOOs, OEMs, technology and service providers, and internet of things (IOT) suppliers. Moving forward, the CTDOT is committed to continuing its participation with the CAT Coalition to advance CAV coordination, education and resources across the country.

New England CAV Working Group (Regional)

The New England CAV working group is a coalition of state transportation agencies collaborating to facilitate the readiness for deployment of CAV in New England and the surrounding region for freight and passenger movement. In addition to the CTDOT, the other members of this working group include the state transportation agencies from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The vision for this group is a seamless operation of CAV across New England states and surrounding regions of the United States and Canada. The focus areas for this group include legal and regulatory, technical projects, and education and training.

The New England CAV working group has highlighted multiple issues for a safe CAV future that are unique to this region. New England is a region composed of six small states with active state and local governments, and numerous and diverse urban, suburban and rural communities that have aging infrastructure and four seasons of variable weather conditions. The geographically small states with frequent cross-border travel, crossing multiple jurisdictions, requires a consistent approach to CAV regulation, policy and deployment. The CTDOT is committed to continuing its participation with the New England CAV working group to advance coordination of CAV education, resources and policies throughout the region.

New England Transportation Consortium (Regional)

The New England Transportation Consortium (NETC) is a research cooperative between the state transportation agencies of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The NETC is a valuable regional partnership for the identification, prosecution and dissemination of shared transportation research initiatives. Since 2017, each of the New England states have worked together through NETC to advance regional CAV research projects, including:

• 20-4 New England CAV Legal and Regulatory Assessment (Active)
  • Will include a scan of similar efforts by national organizations such as AAMVA, AASHTO, TRB and industry groups to avoid duplication and to ensure other multi-state legal and regulatory issues are considered.
  • Will dive deep into details of related areas to identify specific laws, regulations and policies that may currently impede testing and deployment or would support successful testing and deployment if they were consistent across the region.
  • Will identify specific recommendations (such as definitions, statutory language recommendations, registration protocols, or liability standards) for consideration by the states for the highest priority legal, regulatory and policy areas.
• 17-1 Quick Response: New England Connected Automated Vehicles (Completed 2018)
  • Documents opportunities and challenges related to multi-state, cross-border CAV issues
  • Includes an action plan (roadmap) of activities the New England states should conduct to facilitate the operation of CAV in the region

The Eastern Transportation Coalition (Regional)

The Eastern Transportation Coalition (TETC) is a partnership of 17 states and Washington DC. TETC is focused on connecting public agencies across modes of travel to increase safety and efficiency and work together to address the pressing challenges facing the eastern corridor. TETC transportation focus areas include systems management and operations, freight and innovation, which includes CAV. The CTDOT participates in the TETC CAV working group to advance CAV coordination, education and resources with other states up and down the east coast. This collaboration serves as a forum for sharing ideas, processes and approaches, and is an organizing body for collaboration on research projects, implementation of new ideas, and other related efforts.