Advancing V2X Innovation

Maricopa County’s Connected Vehicle Acceleration Zone (CVAZ) in Arizona is set to improve road safety, mobility and efficiency across one of the country’s fastest growing regions. WSP is working alongside Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to scale the vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology that will make it possible – enabling vehicles, infrastructure and road users to communicate in real-time.

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Location

Maricopa County, Arizona

Client

Maricopa County Department of Transportation

V2X technology is being integrated into 400-plus emergency, freight and transit vehicles and installed across strategic corridors within Maricopa County – at around 750 traffic light intersections in the cities of Phoenix, Tolleson, Avondale and along ADOT’s US60.

The large-scale project will advance critical applications such as Emergency Vehicle Pre-emption, Transit and Freight Signal Priority, and Vulnerable Road User Detection. Giving blue light services the green lights they need when every second counts, keeping public transport on schedule, reducing delivery delays and emissions, and better protecting pedestrians and cyclists. It will also help to maximize existing network capacity and improve traffic flow for everyone – without building more roads.

Intersections

750

Connected Vehicles

400+

Population

4.6 million

Creating a national model for smarter, more connected cities

The CVAZ project is rolling out V2X technology at scale to test, refine and demonstrate how it works in real-world traffic conditions – helping to create a national model for advancing lifesaving V2X technologies across the U.S.

The technology is designed to be compatible, secure and future ready so that systems from different vendors and agencies can work together using nationally or federally established standards.

As general engineering consultant, we worked with MCDOT to secure a V2X Accelerator Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for CVAZ – under the Saving Lives with Connectivity: Accelerating Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Deployment Program.

We are leading end-to-end delivery of CVAZ, coordinating systems engineering, procurement, integration, testing and operational readiness. Phase two of the project includes evaluating operational performance and sharing the impacts and benefits of deployment with state and federal partners.

Engaging communities to keep everyone moving safely

CVAZ spans multiple cities, agencies and vehicle fleets — introducing new technology into everyday life. We’re working with multiple stakeholders and communities to integrate V2X. A project open house during Arizona’s first annual Tech Week, STEM activities, ride-along demonstrations and other outreach initiatives keep people informed about the project’s progress and impact.

As a thriving place to live, work and explore, Maricopa County is one of the most populated counties in the U.S. That puts more pressure on road networks and transportation infrastructure, with Arizona experiencing one of the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities in the country.

Those conditions make Maricopa County an ideal place to test technologies focused on improving safety and mobility in complex urban environments where people, vehicles and infrastructure constantly interact. MCDOT is also a leader in connected vehicle technology with the infrastructure, operational maturity and regional coordination to deploy V2X at scale.

As well as inspiring a national model for rolling out lifesaving V2X technologies, CVAZ will help MCDOT build a more connected transportation system for a growing population. Safer, smarter, and smoother for everyone – including drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.