In the last decade, the surface transportation system has witnessed the introduction of an array of innovative technologies designed to reduce congestion and improve road safety. But their widespread deployment has been slow to occur, and crowded roadways and unacceptable levels of injuries and fatalities remain the norm. The notion of connected and automated transport and consideration for multi-modal solutions has taken center stage in recent years. Vehicles and infrastructure talking to each other speaks to the promise of better managed roads with the promise of efficient and effective traffic flow. Increasing levels of automation take the safety conversation to the next level by confronting the shortcomings of the human interface that lead to something approaching of 90% accidents that would otherwise be preventable if better driver decisions were made. Enhanced consideration for multi-modal service and demand solutions has introduced credible alternatives. Yet these technologies and improvements to transportation management by infrastructure owner/operators and greater empowerment to the consumer do not seem to be moving the needle.  Deaths and injury on the roads are not appreciably lessened. And improvements to the system that seek to manage existing road capacity rather than continue to attempt to build a way out of the problem only seem to induce more demand. Perhaps most indicting is the disappointing awareness and support from the traveling public itself to recognize, embrace, use, and agree to pay these “solutions”.

The panelists will discuss why significant advances in technology and system management are sometimes slow to happen when contrasted with proposed benefits to the traveler and the associated marketing hype that tells of a very promising future. What should we be learning to overcome these failures? Are there signs of success that merit more attention and application? How well are we taking into consideration the broader transportation system ecosystem when moving people and goods?  There is a strong desire across the industry to save lives but how can we more effectively bring these technologies to scale to achieve these goals? 

Moderator, Dean Zabrieszach, Chief Executive Officer HMI Technologies.