Connected and Automated Vehicles Office (CAV-X)
Goal
The vision of the CAV-X Office is innovation and exploration that prepares MnDOT and Minnesota for a safe, equitable, accessible, efficient, and sustainable transportation system for today and the future. Its mission is to lead collaborative research, development, and deployment, innovative partnerships, and strategic investments to empower communities to improve quality of life by planning and preparing for emerging transportation technologies, including intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and connected and automated vehicles (CAV).
The Office goals are to:
- Partnerships and Collaboration: Grow partnerships with private industry, governments, researchers, businesses, and communities to advance research and programs that meet the needs of all Minnesotans. Share information with other partners throughout Minnesota, the region, and nationally. Find opportunities to collaborate research and programs with other stakeholders and communities. Document lessons learned and best practices from our research and programs to advance
- Research, development, and deployment: Advance multi-modal research and pilots using interoperable technology to meet One Minnesota goals to promote safety, equity, access, mobility, public health and sustainability for today and the future. Adopting and mainstreaming new technologies, products and services to advance MnDOT readiness, efficiency, and real-time data.
- Communication, education and outreach: Engage internal and external stakeholders and communities to build CAV knowledge to collaboratively build public trust in how the state is planning and preparing for CAV. Inform, engage, collaborate and empower communities to provide feedback on how MnDOT and the state are preparing for the future.
- Policy and planning: Collaborate with stakeholders and communities to develop clear laws, rules and policy for safe CAV testing and deployment to create a predictable environment for businesses and the public.
- Accessibility and connectivity: Preparing for CAV includes accessibility and connectivity, including equal access to these technologies.
Products the office provides
- Education, engagement, and strategic communications
- Project management
- CAV Challenge partnership program
- CAV expertise
- Regional ITS planning
- CAV planning
- Developing partnerships
- National and regional collaboration and organization; Coordination with other states and the DOT
- Interagency coordination of the state’s CAV program
- ITS expertise
- ITS Innovative Ideas solicitation
- Policy development
- Guidance for local agencies
What to expect from the office
- See above products and services
- Needs to be involved in any ITS or CAV discussions with projects or partners to ensure coordination with MnDOT CAV Strategic Plan and Governor’s Advisory Council on CAV vision
- Support with scoping, design, implementation on CAV and ITS technology on existing or future projects
- Coordination with industry and external partners for CAV and ITS
- Technical expertise
- Potential funding opportunities
What you need to provide to the office
- In scoping and planning stages, contact CAV-X staff to discuss opportunities to test or install CAV technologies
- Dates for potential project(s)
- Coordination with any external or industry partners discussing CAV or ITS topics
What the office expects from you
- Coordination
- Information
- Early and ongoing communications with upcoming projects on interstates or major highways that may be able to integrate new technologies