[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14105-14108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05414]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration


Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program; Request for 
Information

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is a Request for Information (RFI) and comments 
that will be used to help refine the plans for one or more pilot 
deployments, which combines connected vehicle and mobile device 
technologies innovations to improve traveler mobility and system 
productivity, while reducing environmental impacts and enhancing 
safety. The FHWA anticipates a procurement action for one or more pilot 
deployment concepts in 2015. The FHWA is issuing this RFI in 
collaboration with, and on behalf of, other agencies within the DOT, 
specifically the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for 
Research and Technology. Feedback and comments on any aspect of the RFI 
are welcome from all interested public, private, and academic entities. 
While all feedback is welcome, DOT is particularly interested in 
feedback on the questions provided in the last section of this RFI.

DATES: Responses to this RFI should be submitted by 11:59 p.m., e.t., 
on April 11, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Responses to this RFI should be delivered electronically as 
an email or attachment to an email sent to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the program 
discussed herein, contact Katherine Hartman, CV Pilots Program Lead, 
ITS Joint Program Office, 202-366-2742, [email protected]. For legal 
questions, interpretations and counsel, please contact Adam Sleeter, 
Office of the Chief Counsel, 202-366-8839, [email protected], 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours for the FHWA 
are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Based on the successful results of the connected vehicle research 
program, and the recent decision by NHTSA to pursue vehicle to vehicle 
communications safety technology for light vehicles, a robust connected 
vehicle pilots program is envisioned as a mechanism to spur the 
implementation of connected vehicle technology. These pilots will serve 
as initial implementations of connected vehicle technology deployed in 
real world settings with the aim of delivering near-term safety, 
mobility, and environmental benefits to the public.
    The DOT connected vehicle research program is a multimodal 
initiative that aims to enable safe, interoperable networked wireless 
communications among vehicles, infrastructure, and personal 
communications devices. Connected vehicle research is sponsored by the 
DOT and others to leverage the potentially transformative capabilities 
of wireless technology to make surface transportation safer, smarter, 
and greener. Research has resulted in a considerable body of work 
supporting pilot deployments, including concepts of operations and 
prototyping for more than two dozen applications. Concurrent Federal 
research efforts developed critical cross-cutting technologies and 
other enabling capabilities required to integrate and deploy 
applications. Descriptions of the following relevant research products, 
developed by the component connected vehicle research programs, can be 
found at the locations provided in footnotes:
     Dynamic Mobility Applications Program.\1\
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    \1\ http://www.its.dot.gov/dma/.
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     Real-Time Data Capture and Management Program.\2\
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    \2\ http://www.its.dot.gov/data_capture/data_capture.htm.
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     Applications for the Environment: Real-Time Information 
(AERIS) Program.\3\
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    \3\ http://www.its.dot.gov/aeris/.
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     Road-Weather Management Program.\4\
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    \4\ http://www.its.dot.gov/connected_vehicle/road_weather.htm.
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     Safety Pilot Model Deployment.\5\
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    \5\ http://www.its.dot.gov/safety_pilot/.
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     Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) Safety Program.\6\
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    \6\ http://www.its.dot.gov/research/v2i.htm.
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     Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Safety Program.\7\
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    \7\ http://www.its.dot.gov/research/v2v.htm.
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    These programs seek to identify, develop, and deploy applications 
that leverage the full potential of trusted communications among 
connected vehicles, travelers, and infrastructure to better inform 
travelers, enhance current operational practices, and transform surface 
transportation systems management. In 2012-2013, the connected vehicle 
research program conducted the Safety Pilot Model Deployment in Ann 
Arbor, Michigan, to assess the potential of V2V and other safety 
applications to reduce crashes and improve roadway system safety.
    Building on the collective body of connected vehicle research work, 
the Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program seeks preliminary 
operational deployments of connected vehicle applications that 
synergistically capture and utilize new forms of connected vehicle and 
mobile device data to improve multimodal surface transportation system 
performance and enable enhanced performance-based systems management. 
The applications developed as connected vehicle applications include 
support for improved decisionmaking by both system users (travelers) 
and system managers. The intent is to deploy site-tailored collections 
of applications that address specific local needs while laying a 
foundation for broader regional and national deployment. Pilot 
deployment sites selected in this effort will focus on combinations of 
applications that result in improved and measureable system performance 
in one or more of the following areas:
     System Productivity.
     Mobility, including impact on freight movements.
     Livability/Accessibility (accessibility is defined as the 
ability to reach goods, services, and activities).
     Environment/Fuel Use.
     Traveler/System Safety, including advising of potentially 
unsafe conditions and mitigating the impact of events that may cause 
vehicle crashes.

Purpose of the Notice

    The DOT seeks comments and innovative ideas from the public sector, 
private sector, and academic communities concerning the pilot program 
described in this RFI. While comments are welcome on any area of the 
RFI, the DOT is particularly interested in responses to the questions 
listed at the end of this RFI.

Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program Description

    This Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program envisions multiple 
pilot deployments with an initial wave

[[Page 14106]]

starting in calendar year 2015. The program seeks to spur innovation 
among early adopters of connected vehicle application concepts, using 
best available and emerging technologies. The pilot deployments are 
expected to integrate connected vehicle research concepts into 
practical and effective elements, enhancing existing operational 
capabilities. The intent of these pilot deployments is to encourage 
partnerships of multiple stakeholders (e.g., private companies, States, 
transit agencies, commercial vehicle operators, and freight shippers) 
to deploy applications utilizing data captured from multiple sources 
(e.g., vehicles, mobile devices, and infrastructure) across all 
elements of the surface transportation system (i.e., transit, freeway, 
arterial, parking facilities, and tollways) to support improved system 
performance and enhanced performance-based management. The pilot 
deployments are also expected to support an impact assessment and 
evaluation effort that will inform a broader cost-benefit assessment of 
connected vehicle concepts and technologies.
    The FHWA anticipates using go/no-go milestones to align Federal 
funding with pilot deployment progress throughout concept development 
and implementation. Example milestones include the completion of site 
partnerships, coordination agreements, and concept development 
documents and equipment test readiness. The FHWA anticipates selecting 
multiple sites to initiate pilot deployment planning. However, this 
initial group may be reduced in number prior to actual deployment.
    The pilot deployments should address the following research 
questions:
     Can connected applications be successfully deployed as a 
part of operational practice, leveraging vehicles and mobile devices 
(in-vehicle or outside of the vehicle) both as data sources and 
application platforms?
     Can system productivity, environmental impact, traveler 
mobility, and transportation safety be measured and enhanced in 
innovative and meaningful ways by combining existing and emerging 
mobile data sources (e.g., by using vehicles and mobile devices as data 
sources)?
     To what extent can connected vehicle technologies and data 
be used to support real-time, performance-based management of roadways, 
transit systems, and freight carriers?
     What are the institutional, legal, and technical issues 
that may help or hinder the use of connected vehicle technologies?
     What wireless and other communications media can be 
combined to make large-scale data capture and mobility applications 
cost effective?
     How can diverse data sources be efficiently integrated and 
utilized?
     Can customer satisfaction with demonstrated applications 
be measured?
     Are State and local agencies prepared to implement and 
maintain connected vehicle technologies?
     How effective is a security credential management system 
in enabling connected vehicle communications?

Connected Vehicle Pilot Program Requirements Under Consideration

    All candidate sites and prospective partners will be required to 
address the following fundamental aspects of the Connected Vehicle 
Pilot Deployment Program concept, including:
     Innovative deployment of multiple connected vehicle 
applications. Applications should exploit the value of integrated 
multisource data (vehicles, infrastructure, and mobile devices). 
Multiple connected vehicle applications must be deployed together in a 
complementary manner to improve overall pilot deployment cost-
effectiveness. Pilot deployment concepts should cost-effectively 
leverage captured connected vehicle and mobile device data to provide 
innovative services to multiple users, including system managers.
    Pilot deployments should build upon the DOT-sponsored research. 
Prototypes of selected connected vehicle applications are currently 
under development and testing, with demonstrations planned for calendar 
year 2014. Some concepts of operations, system requirements, and design 
documents will be made available, as well as algorithms and source code 
associated with these prototypes. A pilot deployment concept need not 
include all of the specific technologies identified in the connected 
vehicle research effort. However, each pilot deployment should combine 
concepts from multiple DOT application development efforts. A table of 
connected vehicle applications developed by DOT can be found at http://www.its.dot.gov/connected_vehicle/connected_vehicle_apps.htm.
     Multisource data approach leveraging vehicle data via 
Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC). Pilot deployments should 
feature frequent capture and systematic integration of data from an 
appropriate broad range of sources. Potential sources may include 
multiple types of infrastructure-based sensors, transit vehicle systems 
(bus and rail), a full range of vehicle types acting as mobile probes 
(including freight carriers and transit vehicles), and travelers moving 
between modes as they complete trips. At a minimum, vehicles must be 
deployed as one data source and DSRC deployed as one of the 
communication technologies.
     Operational deployments. Pilot deployments should be 
conducted in operational transportation networks. Pilot deployments set 
in laboratory or closed facility test environments are precluded from 
consideration. Preference will be shown to pilot deployment proposals 
that combine data drawn from fixed infrastructure-based sensor systems 
and contemporaneous populations of vehicles or travelers and mobile 
devices participating as mobile probes. Pilot deployments are intended 
to become integrated elements of current and future operational 
practice.
     Performance measurement. Well-defined, quantitative 
performance measures and a clear strategy for evaluating these impacts 
must be a part of any pilot deployment.
     Diverse practical deployment environments. Pilot 
deployments should include practical and effective connected vehicle 
deployments that include bi-directional communications between vehicles 
and transportation management systems. The DSRC vehicle communications 
must be included, but a deployment concept may also include additional 
data sources (e.g., mobile devices and infrastructure sensors) and 
other communication media. Pilot deployments should focus on achieving 
practical and measureable improvements that showcase the near-term 
potential of connected vehicle technology.
     No driver distraction effects. Piloted applications will 
involve collection of information from moving vehicles and presentation 
of information to drivers. Those activities must be conducted in a 
manner that will not distract drivers or compromise safety. Pilot 
deployments will not include applications that require driver 
interaction while operating a vehicle. See www.distraction.gov for 
additional information on distracted driving.
     Data sharing. A required element of the pilot deployments 
is the systematic collection of data from both mobile and fixed 
sources. It is the intent to provide open access to the data through 
the DOT Data Capture and Management Program. The data may be made 
available as the pilot deployment is conducted, or made

[[Page 14107]]

available shortly after the conclusion of the pilot deployment. The 
data is intended to support concurrent research activity and connected 
vehicle application development. If necessary, data should be 
transformed or aggregated to protect privacy, and the Government will 
consider allowing transformation or aggregation to protect intellectual 
property rights.
     Independent evaluation. Pilot deployments will be 
conducted with parallel and independent impact evaluations and target 
user satisfaction assessment. An independent evaluation contractor will 
assist in planning and executing an evaluation plan and author a 
national evaluation report.
     Security Credentialing Management System. Pilot 
deployments shall make appropriate use of the latest ITS standards for 
trusted information exchange.\8\ Pilot sites will be expected to 
connect to a Security Credential Management System. A DOT-provided 
system will be available for the purposes of the pilot deployments.
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    \8\ http://www.standards.its.dot.gov/.
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     Basic Safety Message broadcast. All in-vehicle equipment 
deployed as a part of the pilot deployment are expected to transmit an 
SAE J2735 Basic Safety Message \9\ even if crash avoidance applications 
are not part of the pilot site deployment plan.
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    \9\ http://www.its.dot.gov/safety_pilot/pdf/Vehicle_
Awareness_Device_Specification-r3-5_20111202.pdf.
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RFI Guidelines

    Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by 
the Government to form a binding contract or issue a grant. Information 
obtained as a result of this RFI may be used by the Government for 
program planning on a non-attribution basis. This RFI notice is NOT a 
solicitation for proposals, applications, proposal abstracts, or 
quotations. This RFI notice is not to be construed as a commitment on 
the part of the Government to award a contract or grant, nor does the 
Government intend to directly pay for any information or responses 
submitted as a result of this RFI notice.
    The Government prefers that submissions NOT include any information 
that might be considered proprietary or confidential. The Government 
intends to publicly release a summary of responses to this RFI. Such a 
summary may identify the number and types of responders (e.g., public 
agency, private entity, or academic institution). If you wish to submit 
any information under a claim of confidentiality, you should submit 
your complete submission, including the information you claim to be 
confidential commercial information, via email to the address given 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above. If you submit materials 
containing information identified as confidential commercial 
information, you should include a cover letter setting forth the 
reasons you believe the information qualifies as confidential 
commercial information. (49 CFR 7.13(c)(4) and 7.17) If we receive a 
request to examine or copy this information, we will treat it as any 
other request under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), and 
process the request in accordance with the procedures found in 49 CFR 
7.17.
    Responses should clearly identify the name(s) of the responding 
organization(s) or individual(s) and a designated point of contact, to 
include address, email, and phone number.

Summary of Questions

    Specific questions posed in this notice follow. Responders are 
reminded that feedback or comments on any aspect of this notice are 
welcome from all interested public, private, and academic entities. 
While all feedback is welcome, the DOT is particularly interested in 
feedback on the following questions. Respondents may respond, to some, 
all, or none of these specific questions:
    1. The DOT envisions an initial wave of pilot deployments to be 
awarded and commence in 2015. Additional waves may follow this first 
wave, through 2017. After a 12-18-month planning and deployment phase 
for each selected pilot site, a period of pilot operational testing and 
data collection is expected. The operational period, results analysis, 
and publication of final results are anticipated to occur over a period 
that does not exceed 18 months. Is this schedule too cautious, too 
ambitious, or about right?
    2. There are important advantages to conducting multiple 
deployments, including diversity of innovation, technical approaches, 
and deployment environments and a more comprehensive assessment of 
connected vehicle technology impact and potential. At the same time, 
the breadth of envisioned applications and the potential costs of 
deployment argue for conducting a small number of deployments with 
critical mass. Is it feasible to achieve the goals of the program with 
multiple deployment sites? What is the rough order of magnitude of 
resources (e.g., cost, vehicles, roadside installations, devices, or 
size of geographic area) expected to enable a meaningful pilot 
deployment in a single site? What is an appropriate Federal/site cost 
share split?
    3. The DOT intends to provide open appropriate access to the data 
collected as part of this effort through the Real-Time Data Capture and 
Management Program. Appropriate access includes suitable protections 
regarding data ownership, intellectual property rights, and privacy.
    a. Do you see value in broadly sharing the data with other 
researchers?
    b. Will such data sharing inhibit participation in the pilot 
deployment program? If so, what mitigation actions will encourage 
participation?
    c. How should the Research Data Exchange \10\ be used in support of 
the pilot deployments? Should data be uploaded as the deployments are 
being conducted (i.e., real-time feeds) or as daily archives?
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    \10\ https://www.its-rde.net/.
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    4. To the greatest extent possible, it is the intent of the 
Connected Vehicle Pilot Deployment Program that algorithms and source 
code associated with new applications or application enhancements, and 
funded as a part of these pilot deployments, be made freely available 
under open source agreements on the Open Source Applications 
Development Portal.\11\ The DOT has identified an open source approach 
as a method to ensure sharing of Government-funded research products 
and shorten the time lag between research and deployment.
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    \11\ http://itsforge.net/.
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    a. Do you see value in making algorithms and application source 
code funded by this pilot deployment program broadly available?
    b. Will such an open source approach inhibit participation in the 
pilot deployment effort? If so, what mitigation actions will encourage 
participation?
    c. Should any particular type of application be provided in open 
source format (e.g., safety applications, non-safety applications, or 
mobility applications)?
    d. The DOT seeks to encourage commercially developed applications 
based on these pilot deployments. What other avenues do you see for 
rapid commercialization besides an open source approach?
    5. The DOT wants to use these pilot deployments to support early 
implementation of connected vehicle technology. Connected vehicle 
technology needs to be interoperable and, as a result, requires 
consistency across implementations. What is the

[[Page 14108]]

role of the Connected Vehicle Reference Implementation Architecture? 
\12\
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    \12\ http://www.standards.its.dot.gov/DevelopmentActivities/CVReference.
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    6. How should the pilot programs be used to support early 
implementation of technologies enabling vehicle-to-vehicle 
applications?
    7. The DOT has invested in connected test bed development.\13\ What 
role should the affiliated connected vehicle test beds play in 
preparing or conducting pilot deployments?
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    \13\ http://www.its.dot.gov/testbed.htm.
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    8. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation 
Officials has prepared a connected vehicle footprint analysis.\14\ To 
what extent can deployment scenarios identified in that analysis be 
achieved as a part of a pilot deployment?
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    \14\ http://ssom.transportation.org/Documents/Executive%20Briefing.pdf.
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    9. How can the potential value of connected vehicle applications 
best be measured and estimated in concert with pilot deployment 
activities?
    10. Based on the nature of the pilot deployments, DOT believes that 
a multimodal cooperative effort involving private and public sector 
organizations will be required. Feedback is requested on issues 
including the challenges in forming the teams as a lead organization, a 
partner, or another participant. What forms or demonstrations of 
commitment by the participants are reasonable and appropriate 
requirements of respondents to a solicitation for the pilot deployment 
program (e.g. letters of intent, proposed matching requirements, or 
draft project plans)?

    Issued on: February 28, 2014.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-05414 Filed 3-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P