HART and TECO Line Streetcar Featured in "Connected Vehicle" Demo

The Tampa Connected Vehicle Pilot project team

The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) and HART recently invited industry peers and media to a demonstration showcasing connected vehicle technology on HART buses and the TECO Line Streetcar System. This was the first-ever demonstration of how connected vehicle safety applications on transit vehicles can help prevent crashes between cars, transit vehicles, and even pedestrians.

Attendees had the opportunity to ride in the vehicles and witness situational demonstrations of the technology, which allows the transit vehicles to "talk" wirelessly to the roadway and other connected vehicles.

Below is video of a simulated situation featuring a car turning in front of the Streetcar:

Tampa is one of the first cities in the nation (one of just three) to deploy connected vehicle technology through the Tampa Connected Vehicle Pilot, which THEA is spearheading. 

As part of the project, THEA is equipping 10 HART buses and 10 streetcars, and the cars of 1,600 individual volunteers with this exciting new technology to make downtown Tampa a safer, smarter place to walk, ride and drive.

The Tampa Connected Vehicle Pilot will also equip buses with Transit Signal Priority (TSP), which will enable them to communicate with streetlights on their routes. Downtown congestion can back up travel, causing buses to become late. When necessary, TSP can prioritize bus movements to speed up service.

The pilot has recently been featured on Discovery Channel Canada's Daily Planet!

The Tampa Connected Vehicle Pilot is a $21-million project funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Streetcar Featured In "Connected Vehicles" Segment on Discovery Channel!

Filming took place in December

The TECO Line Streetcar recently got some international camera time!

Discovery Channel Canada's "Daily Planet" featured the Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) Connected Vehicle (CV) Pilot program in a segment. The show detailed how the implementation of the program is equipping devices throughout the city to help prevent crashes, keep traffic moving and improve fuel efficiency.

As part of the project, one TECO Line Streetcar System has been outfitted with devices that provides a warning when a connected vehicle or pedestrian is about to cross the track, reducing the risk of collisions. Up to 10 Streetcars and 10 HART buses will be equipped with these innovative devices by the end of April.

THEA Project Manager, Bob Frey, and Systems Engineer Lead for the CV Pilot, Steve Novosad, were interviewed and demonstrated the system's uses for the segment. In addition to the TECO Line Streetcar System, the Selmon Expressway and a Downtown Tampa pedestrian walkways were also featured on the program.

The Discovery Channel Daily Planet video is available to view online. The project's six-minute segment starts at 25:43.

Filming for the segment took place back in December.