| Summary Report: 2025 Statewide CAV Familiarity and Perception Survey | Connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology continues to advance, bringing new possibilities—and new questions—for Minnesota’s transportation system. Since the 2020 statewide baseline survey, Minnesotans’ familiarity with CAV concepts has generally
increased, reflecting broader exposure to emerging technologies and ongoing public conversation. However, awareness and understanding remain uneven, and public perceptions continue to be shaped by a balance
of optimism, curiosity, and concern. The findings presented in this 2025 report offer a comprehensive snapshot of current public perception in Minnesota. They highlight opportunities to build understanding, address concerns, and strengthen trust—while reinforcing the need to center community voices as decisions about CAV technology move forward. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2026 |
2026CAV01
| Complete |
| Understanding Work Zone Delineation for Lane-Keeping Systems | Lane Keeping System (LKS) assistance technologies (typically through machine vision) continue to be developed and deployed in more motor vehicles. State traffic engineers will need to understand how lane delineation methods in work zones impact the performance of those systems. This project compared different delineation methods commonly used in work zones and quantified how these methods affect the performance of lane keeping systems. By understanding these impacts, the State can make better decisions about work zone design that leverages the lane keeping systems to improve motorist and worker safety. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2026 |
2026CAV03
| Complete |
| Project Summary: Argus IRIS Operational Dashboards | MnDOT uses the Intelligent Roadway Information System (IRIS) software to manage traffic monitoring and control devices. IRIS operates thousands of message signs, cameras, ramp meters and other devices. This project was developed to pilot the use of the Argus data dashboard system to create a better user interface for device condition data from State’s current IRIS software. The Argus dashboard was created to provide key insights into MnDOT’s extensive traffic management system such as operational capacity, historical data and device performance. Understanding the performance of the IRIS system is key to both its real-time operations and maintenance. Argus worked to extract, organize and present IRIS’s data in a clear and easy to access form, making it available to a wider audience. This was done by quick, at-a-glance checking for overall system performance and identification of patterns and trends. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2026 |
2026CAV04
| Complete |
| Gaps and Opportunities in Minnesota Law for Automated Vehicles | Other than a statute enabling permitted truck platooning on state highways, Minnesota has not enacted any laws regarding the operation of Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV). Executive Orders from the Governor in 2018 and 2019 have allowed testing, demonstration and other activities, but to create the certainty and rigor needed to enable widespread implementation and use of the technologies enabling CAV operation, action from the legislature is needed. This research identified areas where Minnesota law needs to be updated, based upon review of the executive orders, previously proposed legislation in Minnesota, laws passed in the 35 states that have taken such action, and model legislation. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2026 |
2027CAV01
| Complete |
| Proposed System-wide Tolling Concept of Operations Leveraging Automatic License Plate Recognition and Vehicle Occupancy Detection Capabilities | The E-ZPass Minnesota Systemwide Concept of Operations (ConOps) provides a high-level overview of the E-ZPass Minnesota Express Lane System and documents additional requirements for a near-term implementation of a transponder-based Automatic License Plate Recognition and Vehicle Occupancy Detection enabled system. While specific toll-by-plate technologies like ALPR cameras and occupancy detection solutions (fixed VOD camera systems) remain the primary focus throughout this ConOps, future evaluation of key considerations and prioritization of desired outcomes for MnDOT tolling operations and the E-ZPass Minnesota customer experience may lead to alternative technology trials and implementation. | Policy and Planning | 2026 |
2026CAV02
| Complete |
| Minnesota Automated Vehicle Day at the Capitol: Event Summary | The timing for the first ever MN AV Day also reflected broader national AV deployment and legislative developments. AV deployments across various use cases are expanding across both passenger and freight use cases, even as a federal regulatory framework continues to evolve. State legislatures have been active in 2026 considering new bills seeking to regulate the ongoing broader deployment of AVs beyond just testing and demonstration. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2026 |
2026CAV06
| Complete |
| CAV Youth Education and Engagement | As a part of ongoing research and planning, MnDOT’s Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) Office engaged youth across the state of Minnesota to incorporate their perspectives into recommendations for future policy and planning efforts. While MnDOT has led engagement on CAV topics with representatives from government, advocacy groups, private industry and the public, the youth perspective has been largely absent. The CAV Youth Education and Engagement Plan fills that gap by creating opportunities for young people to learn about CAV technology, share their insights and feedback, and help shape messaging that reflects their priorities and concerns.
The project team focused their efforts on two engagement strategies: a series of listening sessions and targeted digital outreach. To educate youth on the basics of CAV technology, the project team shared a 10-minute presentation at the beginning of each listening session and then spent the remainder of the listening session time asking participants to share their thoughts, reactions and insights. The project team also created two informational social media posts that were geotargeted towards areas with youth ages 14-18. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2026 |
2026CAV05
| Complete |
| Automated Waze Imports | Waze offered a traffic data feed to government transportation agencies, which included alerts (citizen alerts of traffic delays, construction, accidents, etc.) and jams (slowdown information created algorithmically by the Waze platform). The Automated Waze Imports task consisted of several components:
• Customized and deployed a Waze alerts importer.
• Enhanced the alerts importer eligible for the 511 Google delay measurements.
• Developed an importer for Waze Jams.
The project involved importing all alert types from Waze, determining which events should be documented based on reliability and confidence scores, adding expected delays to 511 events, determining which jams should be eligible for import into 511, and adding directional information to displayed jams. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-07
| Complete |
| Fiber Optic Feasibility and Partnership Study | The Fiber Optic Feasibility and Partnership Study aimed to develop a strategic plan for future fiber connectivity by utilizing public-private partnerships. The project involved the following tasks:
• Reviewed state policy and legal barriers.
• Assessed the state's current right-of-way assets.
• Identified fiber and telecommunications gaps and needs.
• Developed an economic opportunity valuation by mapping the state's
assets.
• Met with private industry to gauge interest in partnerships.
• Coordinated across MnDOT and other DOTs for best practice reviews. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-08
| Complete |
| Rochester Automated Shuttle Pilot: Med City Mover | The Rochester Automated Shuttle Pilot was a research project that included the 12-month demonstration (August 2021 - August 2022) of two highly automated and electric vehicles to over 3,000 passengers along a fixed route downtown in the City of Rochester. The circular, fixed route connected the Mayo Clinic downtown campus with residential neighborhoods, shops, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, and parking lots to serve the residents and visitors of Rochester. Each shuttle had a 6-person capacity with operating speeds of 12-15 mph. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-09
| Complete |
| Smart Snelling | The Smart Snelling project was comprised of two main components:
• Testing a third-party application to provide users signal phasing and timing (SPaT) information.
• Testing snowplow signal priority.
MnDOT and Ramsey County installed connected vehicle technology equipment at 16 intersections owned by MnDOT and Ramsey County. The project tested the equipment¿s ability to provide snowplow signal priority by communicating with the onboard unit on the plow truck. The project also tested the "TravelSafely" mobile phone application's capabilities to provide real-time information accurately and effectively about signal phasing and timing to inform travelers of phase changes, red-light running, and presence of pedestrians/cyclists. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-10
| Complete |
| Work Zone Data Exchange (WZDx): CARS eXchange | The Condition Acquisition and Reporting System (CARS) eXchange project was put in place to support the FHWA¿s goal of increasing safety for the traveling public by sharing real-time work zone information between the public and private sectors, under an FHWA grant. To do so, MnDOT planned to advance work zone reporting, safety, and mobility by:
• Pushing information to third parties in the WZDx format.
o WZDx Publisher
• Pulling information from other WZDx-compliant feeds.
o WZDx Fusion Engine
• Creating a mobile tool for workers to check into work zones.
o Work Zone / Worker Presence (WZWP) App | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-11
| Complete |
| Connected Corridor | The Connected Corridor was a foundational Connected Vehicle (CV) project along TH-55 that included planning, design, deployment, and operation of CV technologies to create a better understanding of what is required for planning and preparing for emerging transportation technologies. This initiative showcased technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of the travelers on the roadway including:
• Software systems.
• Roadside infrastructure.
• On-board vehicle equipment. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-06
| Complete |
| Centralized SPaT and MAP Data Sharing | The project assessed MnDOT’s ability to share signal phasing and timing (SPaT) data and intersection geometry (MAP) data to travelers and third-party systems via a centralized process. The following tasks were completed:
• Developed a concept of operations and systems requirements for a
centralized data sharing system.
• Conducted stakeholder interviews with multiple DOTs that used similar
traffic signal software as MnDOT.
• Demonstrated an existing software product (Q-Free¿s MAXVIEW version
2.X) against the system requirements and documented the results. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-05
| Complete |
| MnDOT Autonomous Bus Pilot | The MnDOT Autonomous Bus Pilot project consisted of deploying a Level 4 shuttle provided by EasyMile on the MnROAD facility. The bus was used for several rounds of public demonstrations as well as testing at the MnROAD facility during winter conditions. The bus could hold up to 12 people and had a range of typical driving speeds from 2 to 11 miles per hour. Demonstrations were conducted in various winter conditions with several variables which can be found below.
Weather Conditions: Clear Weather / Bare Pavement, Uncontrolled Winter Weather, Controlled Winter Weather Variables: Automated Shuttle Bus Only, Obstacles (Work Zone Barrel), Other Cars, Pedestrians, Bicycles | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-04
| Complete |
| Variable Pedestrian Clearance Interval (VPCI) | The Variable Pedestrian Clearance Interval (VPCI) project consisted of deploying, testing, and analyzing the results of installing video at an intersection to extend the Flashing Don't Walk (FDW) interval as needed when pedestrians were still located within the crosswalk. To complete this project, the project team:
• Installed pedestrian detection equipment.
• Reviewed an initial round of testing data to find gaps in the system data.
• Determined a new path forward after identifying the data gaps.
• Tested additional pedestrian detection equipment.
• Utilized ATSPM data to verify the outcome of the pilot. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-13
| Complete |
| MnDOT Traffic Camera Maximizer | This project involved the implementation of a Traffic Camera Maximizer (TCM). The Traffic Camera Maximizer was proposed to broaden the reach of the following MnDOT assets to improve situational awareness of driving conditions across the state: 511 public website, traffic public website, and Road Weather Information System (RWIS) cameras.
To achieve the goals, the project was split into two portions. The first task was to improve the usability of the public 511 website for both desktop and mobile devices. The second task involved highlighting traffic and RWIS cameras within the 511 platform where slowdowns or inclement weather could be automatically detected, and the calculated delay would be displayed on 511. This could improve quality of real-time information. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-03
| Complete |
| Grand Rapids GoMARTI Self-Driving Shuttle Pilot Program: Data and Research Support | In the fall of 2022, a first-of-its-kind CAV pilot program called goMARTI (or, Minnesota’s Autonomous Rural Transit Initiative) was launched as a collaborative effort between numerous partners. The 18-month pilot offered free, on-demand rides to area residents and visitors using five autonomous shuttle vans (including three wheelchair-accessible vans) at 70 drop-off and pickup points within a 17-square-mile area. In this project, researchers
documented lessons learned from the pilot, which included exploring the recent history of institutional and community engagement efforts regarding transportation in Itasca County and Grand Rapids, as well as the innovations and collaborations that took place to make the pilot’s implementation possible. | Policy and Planning | 2025 |
2024-20
2024-20F
| Complete |
| Assessment of Pedestrian Safety and Driver Behavior Near Automated Vehicles | Driverless vehicles provide the transportation industry with fiscal and environmental benefits, but concerns remain regarding the interaction between driverless vehicles and drivers of manual vehicles. In Rochester, Minnesota, interactions between a driverless shuttle and other vehicles were observed in a pedestrian-heavy area of the city. Additional research included analyzing driver behavior relative to the shuttle and conducting lab tests to better understand what messaging the shuttle could provide surrounding traffic. The results demonstrated that potential dangers could be mitigated by increasing the speed of the shuttle and displaying clearer messaging on the back of the shuttle to alert drivers to the shuttle’s behavior. | Traffic and Safety | 2025 |
2024-02
| Complete |
| Drive MN | Automated vehicles (AVs) rely heavily on roadway infrastructure to function. This project used technology-equipped research vehicles to drive over 1,000 miles of Minnesota roadways to gain a better understanding of potential infrastructure issues that would inhibit the operations of AVs. The outcomes of this project were intended to be used by transportation professionals to make improvements to allow for the operation of automated driving and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Data was gathered with vehicle technology and sensors to collect radar, LiDAR, and video data which was post-processed to identify problematic areas and place issues into the following buckets:
• Freeway ramps and turn lanes.
• Poor lane line condition and visibility.
• Construction and maintenance activities.
• Poor contrast.
• Tight curvature.
• Environmental issues.
• Dynamic lanes.
Along the drive, the team hosted live events in every MnDOT district to provide information about Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs), the state of the industry and vehicle technology, as well as observations made along the drive. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-02
| Complete |
| Mobile Advertisements for Work Zones | The moving vehicle geofencing project used existing marketing geofence tools in a new way to help share information with the public. These tools used mapped locations to target specific areas—like a road or construction zone—with updates about nearby construction projects. The project supported MnDOT’s communications team in giving people early warnings about upcoming work. This approach added another layer of outreach for both local and regional travelers. People received project information through digital ads on popular websites and social media platforms they already use on their phones. These messages appeared as regular web ads after a driver passed through a targeted area, not as text messages, so they did not interrupt anyone while driving. This method helped reach commuters who traveled through construction zones, not just people who lived nearby, and expanded beyond traditional mailings and media announcements. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-50
| Complete |
| 511 Data Snapshot | MnDOT’s 511 traveler information system provides real-time statewide data of crashes, closures, construction, and winter road conditions to third-party mapping platforms like Waze, Apple Maps, and Google Maps. MnDOT wanted to validate the accuracy of information being display on third-party mapping platforms, to ensure the right data was being shared with travelers in a timely manner. For safety, and not to disturb the public, the team conducted a one-day closed-circuit test at MnDOT’s MnROAD site. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-49
| Complete |
| Project Summary: Heath Creek Truck Parking | Truckers often struggle to find parking to take legally required breaks, which is not only an inconvenience for drivers, but also poses a safety risk for the motoring public. MnDOT is testing a detection system to identify the number of available truck parking spaces at the Heath Creek Rest Area (Northbound) located at M.P. 68.1 North of Faribault and provide those numbers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is a total of 19 spaces. MnDOT wants to provide that available space number on a changeable message sign upstream of the rest area and through the 511 system so that truckers can decide on whether or not they want to park their truck at this location or another. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-45
| Complete |
| Active Transportation and Travel Information System: Concept of Operations | This Concept of Operations (ConOps) describes a vision to integrate active transportation facilities into the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT)’s 511 Traveler Information System. The primary purpose of this document is to provide a common understanding among stakeholders of how the proposed system will function and what benefits it will deliver, ensuring that the final implementation is operationally feasible and meets user needs. The concept advocates for the inclusion of traveler information for all transportation modes, emphasizing the needs of active transportation users, including cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users, and micromobility users. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-44
| Complete |
| Machine Vision for Asset Management | This project investigated the use of evolving machine vision technologies to improve asset management procedures. Machine vision is technology that enables machines to “see” and interpret images, similar to how humans see and understand the world. It includes capturing an image, analyzing the image, and then completing and action or decision based on the analysis.
The team successfully tested three different lane detection systems (Vaisala RoadAI, Blyncsy Payver, and Enlite AI Detekt) using a random sample of MnDOT VideoLog data. The algorithms tested were designed for lane detection in support of driving automation systems. However, since the visibility of the marking is central to their function, it also serves as a key indicator of their condition. This demonstrated that a system could be developed to automatically score pavement marking condition automatically using VideoLog data, effectively flagging locations needing additional inspection. System-wide screening is not currently feasible with the existing pavement marking inspection systems and staffing levels. Results from this study indicate the three software solutions are viable options for automating and improving MnDOT’s road asset management practices. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-42
| Complete |
| Automated Truck Mounted Attenuator (ATMA) | Connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technology has the potential to significantly increase work zone safety. Each day, MnDOT maintenance employees and contractors are at risk of being involved in crashes when performing road work. To mitigate this risk, MnDOT uses truck mounted attenuators – or crash cushions – to help protect roadside workers. The ATMA project sought to evaluate and deploy automation technology in support of MnDOT maintenance work zones. The main project goal was to find a solution to improve worker safety by removing the human from the host truck, a position with high exposure to being hit by the traveling public. The ATMA project may not have accomplished the goals as originally defined but did expand MnDOT’s knowledge of automation technology, as well as develop understanding and support structure for how automation technology could be integrated into MnDOT’s fleet. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-26
| Complete |
| White Bear Lake Automated Shuttle Pilot: Bear Tracks | The Bear Tracks Automated Shuttle Pilot was a research project that included the 12-month operation (August 2022-July 2023) of a Level 3 Automated Vehicle (AV) Shuttle along a 1.5-mile-long route in the city of White Bear Lake. The shuttle itself was a self-driving, electric, multi-passenger vehicle that drove at a speed between 10-12 miles per hour. The shuttle could hold up to 11 seat-belted passengers and one wheelchair passenger at a time. The shuttle's route along a residential street connected a day program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, affordable housing, and the community YMCA. The demonstration was concluded before the projected end date due to the restructuring of the vehicle manufacturer and resultant lack of technical support. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-12
| Complete |
| Connected Vehicle Traveler Alert System | The Connected Vehicle Traveler Alert System project was implemented to
increase traveler awareness and subsequently increase safety of the traveling public by notifying them of upcoming maintenance vehicles or snowplows that may not have been in the line of sight. This was tested by sending maintenance vehicle location data gathered by an automatic vehicle location (AVL) system to a MnDOT server where the data was sent to:
• The Transportation Management Center (TMC) which allowed for the
display of a dynamic message sign (DMS) message to the traveling
public that a maintenance vehicle was ahead.
• An application running on a smart phone / mobile device of drivers who
were approaching the maintenance vehicle at a specified distance. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-14
| Complete |
| Cost/Benefit Analysis of Fuel-Efficient Speed Control using SPaT Data | MnDOT's Connected Corridor project in 2020 contributed to progress in the development and deployment of technology for vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. Using signal phasing and timing (SPaT) data from signalized intersections to control driving speed, this project completed a cost benefit analysis for use of SPaT data in connected vehicles (CVs) and its effect on fuel efficiency. The analysis was performed by:
• Outfitting four vehicles with communications and tools to record SPaT
data, geometric lane data, vehicle trajectories, and speed / acceleration
profiles.
• Developing a traffic flow prediction model and speed control method
from the previously collected data which could predict upcoming traffic
and calculate the vehicle's optimal speed to minimize fuel consumption.
• Re-driving the test corridors to refine the model and speed control
method.
• Performing laboratory testing to predict and evaluate fuel savings from
CVs driving the corridor.
The analysis was completed for diverse traffic scenarios at different CV market penetrations ranging from 10% to 90%. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-15
| Complete |
| Dynamic Flashing Yellow Arrow Phase Mode Selection | This project focused on utilizing high-resolution signal data, crash data, and volume data to analyze safety impacts associated with the three left-turn phasing modes that flashing yellow arrows could operate in and determine when the various modes should operate. The three modes were as follows:
• Protected only.
• Protected-permissive.
• Permissive only.
The project team needed to analyze the data in two different methods to better understand the results. The analysis was completed for 9 scenarios with different combinations of:
• Speed (Low / High)
• Lateral Offset (Positive / Negative)
• Left-Turn Lane (Single / Dual)
The result of this project was a methodology that could be used for future analysis and incorporation of safety data into FYA operations decisions. No specific updates were made to the existing FYA phase mode decision spreadsheet. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-16
| Complete |
| Passive Pedestrian Detection Analysis | The Passive Pedestrian Detection Analysis project reviewed a variety of
commercially available passive detection systems. Vendors that were selected for this study included: Flir, Miovision, Econolite, Gridsmart, and Iteris.
After vendor selection, the project went through the following phases: (1) Ground-truth Testing to verified the rate at which the systems accurately recognized a pedestrian at the intersection; (2) Pushbutton Compliance Testing to determine the rate at which pedestrians activated the pushbuttons when they intended to cross the street, and verify the accuracy of each system compared to pushbutton compliance; and (3) Vendor Result Summarization. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-17
| Complete |
| Community Driven CAV: Finding CAV Solutions for Community-Identified Issues | We envisioned a project—a future—where the community is at the forefront of planning and implementation of new technology. Technologies are often developed by select companies and universities, and then tested in communities. Instead of leading with a solution, Community Driven CAV started by understanding community needs and assets, and then creatively explored ways that connected and automated technologies could address them. We wanted the community to drive what technology and use cases we plan for, develop and test. We sought to upturn the usual way of doing business to create a stronger and more equitable transportation future.
First the project team conducted three community listening sessions to understand the community’s transportation challenges. Next a workshop with community members and technical experts was held to discuss how CAV technology could potentially help address the identified transportation challenges. This work resulted in potential demonstration concepts for the Creative Enterprise Zone and a Community-Driven Planning Framework, which can be used by others looking to do community-led planning. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2025 |
2025-20
| Complete |
| Assessing Pavement Markings for Automated Vehicle Readiness | Blind spot monitoring, lane departure warnings and adaptive cruise control are among the functions of automated vehicles (AVs) with significant potential safety benefits. To accurately function, lane keep systems rely on camera-based sensors to detect pavement markings and help a vehicle track the roadway lanes. New research results increase understanding of pavement marking design qualities that optimize AV function.
Using two different camera systems and four different vehicle makes and models with a range of automated functions, researchers observed camera and vehicle tracking performance on roads with a variety of pavement marking characteristics. Results of this study and a companion project exploring human response to pavement marking variations led to recommendations for MnDOT to modify marking designs to work better for AVs as well as human drivers. Suggested changes include slightly changing the standard highway lane divider mark-to-gap ratio, widening stripes to 6 inches as allowable and delineating turn lanes and exit ramps with dotted lines. | Traffic and Safety | 2024 |
2024-16
| Complete |
| TRS: Public Education on Automated Driver Assist Systems | Most new vehicles sold in the last few years include some level of ADAS, and the use of ADAS in personal vehicles is expected to expand. If used appropriately, these systems have many potential safety benefits. However, drivers’ awareness of their vehicles’ ADAS and how it is applied varies. While some automobile dealerships provide ADAS education when a new car is purchased, this educational practice is not widespread. Recognizing this gap in public awareness, the CAV-X Office is considering launching an effort to educate the public on ADAS and how it is applied in personal vehicles. Before undertaking this public education campaign, the office sought information about the possible efforts of other state DOTs and organizations such as universities, nonprofit organizations, original equipment manufacturers and departments of public safety to educate the public about this relatively new technology. Knowledge of other organizations’ efforts will help the CAV-X Office avoid duplication and learn from the educational programs and practices of other organizations. | Traffic and Safety | 2024 |
TRS2405
| Complete |
| Real-Time Integration of Arrow Board Messages into Traveler Information Systems | Many DOTs struggle with real-time information being relayed to their users in situations that involve lane closures. Due to the variability in location and duration, real-time integration of arrow board messages into traveler information systems became an item of interest for MnDOT to provide up-to-date data to travelers. This project involved:
1) Deployment of an integrated ITS solution to report on the location and
operational status of arrow boards in real time to MnDOT's Regional
Transportation Management Center (RTMC) systems.
2) Integration of the arrow board status information with the MnDOT
Intelligent Roadway Information System (IRIS) to alert RTMC operators
of lane closures who could then add messaging to nearby dynamic
message signs.
3) Integration of the arrow board status information with the MnDOT
Condition Acquisition and Reporting System (CARS) which provided realtime updates to the traveler information system.
The pilot project involved 20 arrow boards equipped with the status monitoring unit to test displaying real-time information to travelers related to stationary and mobile lane closures. | Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) | 2024 |
2025-18
| Complete |
| Implementation of Lane Boundary Guidance System for Snowplow Operations | It’s often difficult for snowplow drivers to clearly see the roads they’re plowing. Snow-covered roads obscure pavement markings, and falling or blowing snow hinders visibility and can potentially obscure obstacles in the plow path. These conditions create a stressful work environment for drivers, may result in inefficient plowing and can lead to crashes or other property damage. A new lane boundary guidance system will make plowing easier, safer and more efficient.
Researchers developed the system using GPS and navigation technology to locate a truck’s position in the lane and display that information in the truck’s cab. Forward-facing radar can also alert drivers to upcoming obstacles. Drivers tested the system on up to nine plows over two winter seasons in MnDOT districts and Dakota County. Driver feedback throughout the testing period guided researchers in improving the display and other system components. Overall, drivers were highly satisfied with the tool during low-visibility conditions, reporting that they experienced less stress, were better able to maintain lane position and cleared roads in fewer passes. To enable system deployment across the state, researchers have begun work to fine-tune the system and explore options for system production and operational support. | Maintenance Operations | 2023 |
2023-27
| Complete |
| Cost/Benefit Analysis of Fuel Efficient Speed Control Using Signal Phasing and Timing (SPaT) Data: Evaluation for Future Connected Corridor Deployment | Connected Corridor project developed and deployed technology to lay the groundwork for connected vehicles (CV). With vehicle-to-infrastructure communication, cars can receive data about upcoming traffic signals, including when they are likely to change. If the CV has adaptive cruise control or other automated speed control, it can use the signal messages to adjust speed, avoiding unnecessary stopping and starting. This driving behavior can decrease fuel consumption.
After retrofitting cars with technology to communicate with the corridor infrastructure, researchers test-drove the cars through intersections to collect data on signals, speeds and traffic conditions. Combined with laboratory simulations and computer modeling, these efforts allowed researchers to estimate fuel savings when varying levels of CVs were driving the corridors. Comparing these benefits to the costs of deploying the signal messaging technology in more intersections will help MnDOT make informed choices on future investments. | Traffic and Safety | 2023 |
2023-06
| Complete |
| Can Automated Vehicles "See" in Minnesota? Ambient Particle Effects on LiDAR Systems | This project will use a combination of laboratory experimentation and road demonstrations to better understand the reduction of LiDAR signal and object detection capability under adverse weather conditions found in Minnesota. It will also lead to concepts to improve LiDAR systems to adapt to such conditions through better signal processing image recognition software. | Traffic and Safety | 2022 |
2022-03
| Complete |
| Minnesota Autonomous Bus Pilot | Autonomous Vehicle technology is advancing rapidly around the world. This technology will likely revolutionize transportation in the future. Benefits of autonomous vehicles include the potential to reduce crashes, improve mobility for the disabled, and reduce future infrastructure costs. To prepare for this technology, MnDOT is evaluating a potential project to test an Autonomous Vehicle in Minnesota. Phase I of the project is to evaluate the feasibility of testing in Minnesota, identify test areas, and identify costs. Based on the results of Phase I, this project may proceed to Phase II. Phase II, which is not funded at this time, would involve testing an Autonomous Vehicle in Minnesota. Contact person: MnDOT State Traffic Engineer Jay Hietpas, jay.hietpas@state.mn.us. | Traffic and Safety | 2019 |
2019-04
| Complete |
