Connecting the West: Utah DOT

In June 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded UDOT $20 million to lead the Connecting the West (CTW) program, a multi-state initiative with Colorado and Wyoming to expand Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) systems. Using the 5.9 GHz safety spectrum, the program enables real-time communication between vehicles and infrastructure to improve safety, mobility, and efficiency across the region.

As the lead agency, UDOT is advancing innovations such as standardized Traveler Information Messages for cross-state safety alerts, snowplow signal preemption for faster storm response, and transit signal prioritization to keep buses on schedule. Other technologies, like LiDAR-based detection of pedestrians and cyclists, highlight the program’s focus on preventing crashes and supporting Utah’s goal of zero roadway fatalities. With over 800 intersections and 600 vehicles already equipped, CTW is on track to become one of the nation’s most comprehensive and interoperable V2X deployments, paving the way for a safer and smarter transportation future in the West.

On Thursday, October 2, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America hosted the first webinar of their V2X Accelerator Deployment Concept Series. The speakers from UDOT, CDOT, WYDOT, and Trihydro collectively provided insights into the planning and design of the Connecting the West program, including challenges being addressed at the deployment site, the proposed system from a user perspective, and the project’s goals and performance measures. Through the installation of roadside units, onboard units, and harmonized traveler information messaging, the project will create a 1,200-mile connected corridor across major interstates, support use cases such as transit signal priority, work zone alerts, and vulnerable road user protection, and generate valuable data for performance evaluation. With support from federal, state, local, industry, and consulting partners, the 18-month project aims to demonstrate scalable solutions, encourage automaker adoption, and serve as a reference model for national deployment.

For more information about the CTW program, please visit transportationtechnology.utah.gov/connecting-the-west-program.