Getting highway infrastructure ready for connected and automated vehicles (CAVs, also known as AVs) will require a significant investment in infrastructure upgrades, new technologies, and power and connectivity. As a result, local agencies need to understand not only what the potential benefits of connected vehicle technologies are but also how they should be preparing for the transition to them.
A new toolbox from the Minnesota Local Road Research Board summarizes this information. The main goal of the toolbox is to assist local agencies in preparing for connected and automated vehicles in the short term—5 to 10 years. It provides information so that local agencies can leverage ongoing activities and resources to prepare for CAVs. For example, when restriping, an agency could invest additional resources to ensure pavement markings are compatible with upcoming standards. Other recommendations include:
- Pavement markings: Place lane lines after resurfacing, maintain quality lane lines, and, at some point, use 6-inch lane lines. Good-quality lines are one of the most critical needs for the current generation of CAVs.
- Signing: Maintain signs in good condition/retroreflectivity and ensure signs are not blocked. Non-standard, blocked, damaged, or faded signing can result in misclassification.
- Maintenance: Maintain or implement timely maintenance, particularly when significant surface degradation occurs, such as potholes. It is likely that CAVs will be able to detect maintenance issues (such as faded pavement markings) and report them back to an agency via roadside units.
- Consistency and standardization: Review practices to ensure signing and markings are consistent in terms of type of sign used, placement, and application.
- Data capture and information sharing and inventory: Develop inventories of features most likely to be impacted by CAVs, such as features relevant to truck platooning (e.g., bridge heights, load restrictions) or safety messaging.
- Communication infrastructure: Consider future communication needs in highway plans and communicate with vendors when upgrades are considered.
Learn more
- Preparing Local Agencies for the Future of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (LRRB/MnDOT, 2019-18, May 2019)
