Use Standardized Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) Message Protocols to Ensure Vendor Interoperability Across Roadside Units (RSUs) and On-Board Units (OBUs) Supporting Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Applications.
A SMART (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation) Grant Pilot Project Integrated Multiple C-V2X Technologies at Intersections in College Station, Texas.
College Station, Texas, United States
Smarter Intersections Pilot Project Implementation Report
Summary Information
This project aimed to improve intersection safety for VRUs through visual and auditory warnings of turning buses, including an illuminated bus icon and 'Caution Bus Turning' announcement. It also tested a smartphone navigation app for blind/low-vision users and simulated communication with automated shuttles and emergency vehicles.
The project conducted between September 2023 and March 2025 addressed rising pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in College Station, Texas. The project involved Texas DOT (TxDOT), Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), the City of College Station, Texas A&M Transportation Services, and a shuttle operator (Beep). During the deployment, a Project Advisory Committee met six times to coordinate tasks including Texas A&M Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals, equipment procurement, and review testing of RSUs, OBUs, and blind/low-vision (B/LV) app integration.
Key lessons learned:
- Use standardized C-V2X message protocols to ensure vendor interoperability. RSU vendor differences required adaptation of communication protocols.
- Plan procurement delays and allow adequate time for approvals. Equipment purchases should align with environmental clearance processes.
- Maintain open data governance and cybersecurity planning. Clear policies and robust protections are needed as systems integrate multiple data sources.
- Include public engagement to improve acceptance. Public acceptance improved with demonstration of tangible safety benefits, particularly for vulnerable users.
