INTRODUCTION
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
DRAFT
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Since the last RTP update, technologies have continued to evolve, representing significant impacts on the region’s transportation system, with the potential for greater changes in the future.
Some of these advances include the following:
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Increased availability of and support for electric vehicles (EVs)
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Continued technology improvements to Connected Vehicles (CV’s) on real time communication between all modes
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Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and other freight-related technologies
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Big data sources (INRIX, Waze, PA511) continue to improve safety for all users and modes across the region by re-routing users to avoid incidents, congestions, or other unexpected delays.
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Adaptive traffic signal technology continues to improve the operation of some of our most congested corridors
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Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies are now widely available in cars and trucks, enabling drivers to more easily reach their destinations and deal with detours and other unexpected conditions.
Technology is continuing to change at rapid speeds making it impossible to predict their impact over the next 20-year planning horizon. As an alternative to making predictions, this plan recognizes the technologies already impacting transportation in the region along with those expected to have the greatest potential impact in the near term.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The transition from gas powered vehicles to fully Electric Vehicles (EV) continues to impact our region and cause change to the surrounding infrastructure. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) provides states funding to close the gaps on Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC’s) and help make EV Charging more accessible to all Americans.
In Pennsylvania and across our region, PennDOT continues to install Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) to close the Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC’s) and make charging convenient, affordable, reliable, safe, and equitable for all members in our communities. Local businesses across our region have begun installing charging infrastructure to accommodate individuals while at work, shopping or those who are on longer road trips along completed AFC’s.
Source: PA DEP
As the AFCs in the region and across the state get built out, HATS will coordinate with PennDOT on NEVI Community Charging to ensure the funding allocated for the region is spent where the demand for charging infrastructure is high. Some of the priority locations in the region include shopping centers, multi-family dwelling complexes, hospitals, and schools. Coordination with local municipalities to find where EV chargers are needed will also occur.
FREIGHT ADVANCEMENTS
Freight advancements in transportation have changed significantly over the past few decades, driven by technological innovations and advancements. Our region’s strategic location along major interstate highways (I-76, I-81, I-83) and proximity to rail give it a critical role for freight movement. Not just on our roadways but recent investment in rail infrastructure from Norfolk Southern has helped to improve the efficiency and capacity of rail movements throughout the region. As we have seen in recent years, I-83 and I-81 continue to boom with warehouses as the region is becoming a strategic location for last-mile delivery hubs. These facilities are being positioned to serve both local consumers and the broader central PA area to improve delivery speeds for all. Companies like Amazon have already established regional distribution centers which contribute to the expansion of the regional freight network.
Not only are our region’s interstates key freight corridors to accommodate traffic up and down the east coast, but aviation technologies are also improving bringing Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) to the commonwealth and region. Advanced Air Mobility is the use of new aviation technologies to enable safer, and more efficient air transportation systems. AAM encompasses a variety of emerging air transport systems including urban air mobility (UAM) and electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL aircraft which can revitalize how people and goods are transported between regions. Some of these systems are expected to play a key role in reshaping the future of transportation by providing faster, and more flexible alternatives to traditional modes of travel. PennDOT is actively involved in planning for AAM infrastructure and collaborating with organizations such as NASA, the FAA, and private industries to ensure that AAM systems are integrated safely and efficiently into the states existing air traffic and transportation networks.
HATS most appropriate roles at this point appear to be continued education and outreach efforts relating to AAM technology to make residents aware and reduce fears associated with the deployment of such technologies. As such, HATS should meet periodically with PennDOT and other leaders in this field to explore educational opportunities and other associated outreach to keep residents informed of the changing technologies.
CONNECTED VEHICLES
Connected vehicles (CV) refer to cars, trucks, and other forms of transportation that are equipped with internet connectivity and advanced communication systems that allow them to communicate between vehicles (Vehicle to Vehicle or V2V). Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) communication enables speed, location, direction and other relevant data to be shared to prevent collisions and enable features like automatic emergency breaking, collision warning and blind spot detection. Vehicle to infrastructure(V2I) allows communication between cars and infrastructure elements like traffic lights and road sensors. In recent years, technology enhancements have evolved to improve bicyclist and pedestrian safety by introducing Vehicle to Pedestrians (V2P) and other Road Users (V2R) which alerts drivers to pedestrians crossing the street or cyclists nearby.
Source: Eastern Transportation Coalition
As newer vehicles become more common in our region that are equipped with communication technologies and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control lane-keep assistance and collision avoidance systems, our roadways will continue to become safer and more reliable for all users. As technology continues to advance, connected vehicles will likely evolve into autonomous vehicles, where much of the driving is controlled by AI and the need for human intervention is minimized. In this future, investments in vehicle connectivity infrastructure will be critical for coordinating vehicle movements and ensuring safe, efficient operation along our high congested corridors in the region.
BIG DATA IN TRANSPORTATION
Big data in transportation continues to play a major role in improving our region’s transportation network by optimizing operations and enhancing the overall efficiency of our system. These sources include GPS (WAZE, Google Maps), traffic cameras, mobile applications, and more. By analyzing this data, transportation systems can address challenges with congestion, safety, logistics, and maintenance in real time. As connected vehicles continue to become more common, the data that we have available at our fingertips to better understand driver characteristics, causes of congestion and traffic patterns will be more valuable than ever to make roadways safer for all user and improve our transportation decisions.
Big data is revolutionizing transportation by providing new ways to optimize traffic, enhance safety, and improve operational efficiency. By analyzing traffic patterns, population growth, and a variety of land use and environmental factors, HATS staff is able to make more informed decisions about where to invest funding in the infrastructure across the region. For example, as a part of the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, HATS staff was able to develop a regional safety action plan that utilizes multiple big data sets to identify the High Injury Network (HIN) and areas with the greatest safety concerns from PennDOT Crash Data.