DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E., Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Briefing on Texas Smart State Alliance and Texas Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Partnership
SUMMARY:
The Transportation & Capital Improvements Department (TCI) will provide a briefing on the development of Texas Smart State Alliance and Texas Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Partnership.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In December 2016, the first Texas Mobility Summit was held in Austin, Texas. The Summit brought together city/regional teams from across Texas, community partners, and industry leaders. The San Antonio Team included representatives from VIA, Mayor Ivy Taylor’s office, City of San Antonio, San Antonio Mobility Coalition, Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, University of Texas at San Antonio, Joint Base San Antonio, and San Antonio District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Discussions included lessons learned from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Smart City Challenge, an exchange of ideas, and presentations on city regional challenges. It was during these discussions the Texas Smart State Alliance and the Texas Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Partnership were created.
The Texas Smart State Alliance (the Alliance) includes nine major Texas Cities: Arlington, Austin, Bryan-College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio. In addition, three major research institutions are Alliance Partners: Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Transportation Research (CTR), and Southwest Research Institute (SWRI). The vision of the Alliance is to create a platform for innovation that enables the Partners to leverage resources, co-create solutions, and share results for improving the delivery of government services to Texas communities.
The Partners of the Texas Smart State Alliance formed the Texas Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Partnership to apply for and subsequently received the USDOT designation as a national proving ground for automated vehicle technology.
ISSUE:
Texas Smart State Alliance
The Texas Smart State Alliance prioritized four areas of focus to improve transportation and mobility projects and programs: 1) Policies, Standards, and Regulations; 2) Industry and Stakeholder Engagement; 3) Partnership Development; and 4) Knowledge & Technology Transfer. To support the four focus areas, six actions were identified: 1) Procurement Reform; 2) Comprehensive Data Strategy; 3) Industry and Stakeholder Engagement Meetings; 4) Strategic and Financial Planning; 5) Developing the Knowledge Base; and 6) Research-as-a-Service.
The Texas Smart State Alliance identified the following next steps:
• Facilitate a Procurement Work Session to discuss activities related to streamlining public procurement practices.
• Formally adopt the four focus areas and six action items as part of the Texas Smart State Alliance Value Proposition.
• Host a Data Innovation Challenge in Summer 2017 to develop and showcase creative insights on pedestrian and intersection safety.
• Explore funding streams to support Texas Smart State Alliance activities and pilot projects.
• Host the 2nd Texas Mobility Summit in October 2017
Texas Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Partnership
Texas Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Partnership members are contributing their facilities, expertise and talents as part of a larger Texas network of proving grounds and test-bed sites. Research institution proving grounds include the research facilities of Texas A&M University System RELLIS Campus, University of Texas at Austin Campus, and the SWRI Campus in San Antonio. Additionally, test-bed sites in Austin, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, San Antonio, and El Paso will offer real-world environments where different challenges can be explored.
The San Antonio Team worked together to identify the urban test-bed site of Fredericksburg Road to include VIA’s Primo Bus Rapid Transit Route. As a test-bed site, San Antonio will experience automated vehicle technology and evaluate its ability to reduce pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle conflicts. In addition, possible technology options to maintain and adjust VIA bus drivers’ interval spacing along this high frequency route could improve the consistency and efficiency of rider service. San Antonio’s Vision Zero goal of zero roadway fatalities and the need to enhance mass transit options for continued population growth makes our city’s involvement as a test-bed site advantageous. Letters of support for the Texas Automated Vehicle Proving Ground Partnership included Mayor Ivy Taylor, the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, and VIA Metropolitan Transit.
ALTERNATIVES:
This is a briefing only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a briefing only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This is a briefing only.