RALEIGH – The following are highlights
from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are
also featured in NCDOT Now,
the department’s weekly newscast.
Advanced Driver-Assistance
Technology
The N.C. Turnpike Authority recently tested a vehicle with advanced
driver-assistance technology on the Triangle Expressway. This is part of NCTA’s
commitment to safety and staying on the forefront of this emerging
technology.
The Turnpike Authority spent 30 hours of drive time in a Cadillac
CT6 with Super Cruise. NCTA partnered with General Motors, who provided the
opportunity to test the vehicle with advanced driver-assistance features.
“Autonomous vehicle technology is an emerging technology, however
many vehicles produced and sold today have advanced driver-assistance technology
features,” said Dennis Jernigan, NCTA Director of Highway Operations. “The
Turnpike Authority wanted to evaluate how one of those vehicles performed on the
Triangle Expressway in conjunction with our tolling operations, as well as to
see how the vehicle interacted with other motorists on a facility in North
Carolina.”
The car is known as the industry's first hands-free and feet-free
driving technology for the highway. The car's cameras and GPS sensors govern
steering, braking and acceleration. When Super Cruise is engaged, the driver
still has to keep their eyes on the road.
The Turnpike Authority tested the vehicle to see how it worked with
the tolling technology on the Triangle Expressway and to research how the
advanced safety features reacted to highway conditions.
Public Transportation Summit
On a similar note, transportation leaders from across the state met
in Raleigh last week to unveil the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Public
Transportation Strategic Plan.
This is a framework for setting priorities and strengthening
partnerships to improve urban and rural transit service. With a vision of
“Connecting North Carolinians to Opportunities,” the Plan recommends expanded
local and regional commuter services and outlines ways to focus transit
spending.
While people may not think of technology as a component of public
transportation, it’s an important piece in preparing for the future.
For example, one idea being worked on at North Carolina State
University is EcoPRT (personal rapid transit). With the help of a NCDOT grant,
students are developing an ultra-light and low-cost transit system that uses
autonomous two-person cars that drive on an elevated railing system, similar to
a monorail.
This technology could help alleviate road congestion and address
mobility needs for citizens.