Powering "Connecting the West": V2X in Utah, Wyoming & Colorado

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A Multi-State Connected Vehicle Project

The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is leading a massive, federally-backed Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) initiative known as Connecting the West. Our Salt Lake City team is a major, hands-on partner in this Multi-State Connected Vehicle project, which heavily features roadside and in-vehicle deployments using standards based integrations.

In Utah, the deployments span the entire state including intersections, State Highways and Interstates as well as in-vehicle installations. The intersections are running applications that provide intersection messaging for geometry/allowed movements (MAP) and traffic signal phasing and timing (SPaT). However they also have applications supporting transit signal priority (TSP) and emergency vehicle preemption (EVP) using J2735 Standard Signal Request Messages (SRM) and Signal Status Messages (SSM) as well as Traveler Information Messages. For the Highway and Freeway applications the project is augmenting the existing Curve-Speed Warning and Spot Weather Impact Warning messaging through the Traveler Information Message (TIM) to also include other TIM messages that will be consistent across state lines to CTW Partners Colorado and Wyoming. Roadside Units (RSUs) in the deployment communicate directly with connected vehicles via C-V2X wireless technology to provide highly localized information, functionality as well as warnings about intersections, curve dangers, black ice, heavy snow, or fog ahead. The system doesn't just talk to the cars; the cars talk back, and even make requests to have the traffic signal changed for them under the right circumstances.

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A Visionary and Tactical Partner

Our team has been an integral partner throughout this initiative, executing the overarching vision and implementing critical tactical components out in the field:

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Massive RSU Deployment: We are actively installing and integrating C-V2X Roadside Units at over 500 intersections, stretching across Utah from Logan down to St. George. Additionally, over 225 highway/freeway RSUs are being deployed.
Snowplow & Transit Preemption: A major focus for our team involves outfitting roughly 100 UDOT snowplows across the state with Onboard equipment. We configure the system so that as a snowplow approaches a busy intersection, it securely broadcasts a request to the signal controller to force a green light—keeping the plow moving and clearing the roads faster at times when the only thing that will help traffic is getting the roads cleared.
System Testing & Security Verification: Key personnel from our team are frequently featured in UDOT's engineering webinars. They are directly responsible for the hardware design, rigorous system testing, and the complex security certificate integration that protects the V2X data network from being compromised.
National Standard Contributions: Our engineers aren't just working locally; they are actively involved with writing the playbook. Our team members serve as contributing authors to the national Connected Intersections (CI) Implementation Guide published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).

By seamlessly bridging the gap between UDOT’s traffic operations and the vehicles navigating Utah’s most treacherous winter corridors, our work ensures that critical data translates instantly into actionable, preventative measures.

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