In order to assess business cases and models for connected vehicle (CV) applications including vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, researchers assessed public agency decision-making activities related to CV infrastructure investments, focusing on identified needs and emerging technologies that have a feasible business case.

The research approach included the following key activities:

• Literature Review. The research team consulted an extensive body of literature.
• Workshop. The research team organized a facilitated a one-day workshop of public and private sector leaders and experts.
• Case Studies. The research team developed several case studies of proposed, pilot, or initial deployments of CV infrastructure by Departments of Transportation (DOTs).
• Expert Review and Analysis. The research team included national experts in CV and Automated Vehicle (AV) technologies who contributed their knowledge and analysis of the literature and research products throughout the course of the study.
• Real-world Deployment Data Collection. The research team collected real-world cost data from 10 active CV infrastructure deployments.

SYSTEM COSTS

In general, the costs to establish and maintain CV infrastructure needed to enable V2I applications include those for wireless roadside units (RSUs) backhaul telecommunications infrastructure, a Security Credential Management System (SCMS) to enable trustworthy and privacy-protected information exchange, back office data management or processing capabilities, and support for monitoring and maintaining the system components.

The CV infrastructure cost component data below were collected from 10 deployment sites.  Researchers noted that most of the data were derived from pilot projects or test beds with different levels of cost component aggregation. This contributed to variability in the cost data presented.

Roadside Unit - Hardware Cost Component

• Minnesota DOT (MnDOT) cites a cost of $100,000 for 22 RSUs for its Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.
• The City of Marysville, OH reports an amount of $2,000-$4,000 per RSU, depending on manufacturer, in relation to its Connected Marysville project outfitting 27 traffic signals.
• Wyoming DOT (WYDOT) cites a cost of $1,400 per RSU for its I-80 pilot deployment involving 78 units.
• Washington State DOT (WSDOT) lists the per RSU cost of 10 RSU kits, which included Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) unit, Power over Ethernet injector, mount, antenna, and cabling, as $5,250 for its SR 522 Corridor Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) deployment.
• University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) had a total budget to deploy 74 RSUs across 27 square miles of Ann Arbor for the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment (3 Curve Speed Warning sites, 4 crosswalks, 8 freeway sites, 1 roundabout, 49 intersections, and five test sites, in total 73 lane-miles of instrumented roadway) of $608,698, equivalent to $8,226 per RSU.
• Utah DOT (UDOT) reports a cost of $1,200 per RSU for the 47 RSUs installed to enable Transit Signal Priority (TSP) for its joint project with Utah Transit Authority to implement the 11-mile Provo-Orem Utah Valley Express Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service.
• The City of Columbus estimates the per RSU hardware cost at $3,500 for 100 RSUs for its Smart Columbus project.
• Virgina DOT (VDOT) / Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) reports the cost for 65 RSU kits used in the Virginia Connected Corridors Test Beds to be $77,400 (roughly $1,200 per RSU).
• Georgia DOT (GDOT) reports the cost of 654 RSUs for part of its deployment of planned CV infrastructure at 1,700 intersections in metropolitan Atlanta to be $588,600, equivalent to $900 per RSU.

Roadside Unit - Design, Deployment, Integration, Testing Cost Component

• MnDOT cites $175,000 for 22 RSUs for its Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.
• UDOT estimates the installation costs of 47 RSUs (mounting on signal mast arm, running cable) at $1,000 per location that enables TSP for its joint project with Utah Transit Authority to implement the 11-mile Provo-Orem BRT service. It also estimates $101,000 to verify proper RSU installation, configure channels, update firmware, configure network, perform final system testing and verification, and provide deployment support and system burn-in.
• The City of Columbus estimates the cost of planning and design (preparation of an approved engineering plan sheet that goes through a three-phase process) for 100 RSUs at $486,000. It also estimates $1.75 million for equipment (including the $3,500 per RSU hardware cost listed above) and installation, covering the cost of an electrical contractor to terminate existing fiber in roadside cabinets, install network switches and routers, install brackets on utility poles, run cabling, and install the units, and the cost of vendor support, network configuration, and testing.
• Florida DOT (FDOT) reports a $268,000 cost for design and deployment of 35 RSUs for its US 90 SPaT project in Tallahassee, including hardware. In addition, it cites another $30,000 for RSU antenna attachment cable, power and communication cable, cable connectors, and specialized tools. FDOT reported a cost of $251,250 for design and deployment of 50 RSUs for its Gainesville SPaT Trapezium.
• GDOT reports the cost of planning and designing the ultimate deployment of 1,700 RSUs in metro Atlanta to be $1.11 million. The cost of procuring, configuring, deploying, and testing the first 654 RSUs is estimated to be about $756,000.
• UMTRI's total construction budget to install 74 RSUs across 27 square miles of Ann Arbor for the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment was $1,129,000. This sum included traffic signal controller upgrade construction-related costs. Configuration and testing costs were approximately $147,550.

Signal Controller Upgrade Cost Component

• The City of Marysville, OH cites $2,200 per signal to enable SPaT for its Connected Marysville project encompassing 27 traffic signals.
• MnDOT quotes $285,000 to upgrade 22 signals for its Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.
• The City of Columbus cites $390,775 for signal controller upgrades and CV modules (installation, licensing, and software) associated with Smart Columbus's 100 RSUs .
• UDOT estimates about $50,000 to install Linux processors in each signal cabinet (including power supplies, power convertors, cables, software installation, loading MAP data, network configuration) for the 47 RSUs installed to enable TSP for its joint project with Utah Transit Authority to implement the 11-mile Provo-Orem BRT service.
• VDOT / VTTI reports that a custom interface to send SPaT data to the RSU, which formulates the SPaT message, cost $13,500 (since there was no option at the time for direct output of the SPaT message from the controller) for its Virginia Connected Corridors Test Beds.
• UMTRI estimates the cost of signal controller upgrade equipment for the 49 intersections across 27 square miles for the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment to be $203,400. The cost of installation is included in the RSU deployment cost described above.

On-Board Unit (OBU) - Hardware Cost Component

• The City of Marysville, OH reported a hardware cost of $1,200-$2,800 per OBU, depending on manufacturer, in relation to its Connected Marysville project with a planned purchase of 500 units.
• WYDOT cites $730-$1,375 per unit for an OBU capable of DSRC and satellite communication (including environmental sensor support, Controller Area Network bus support, Human Machine Interface, antenna, cabling, software, installation, and support) for its I-80 pilot deployment. A total of 409 units were included, with some lacking environmental sensor and Controller Area Network bus support.
• UMTRI's expenditures for the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment on 2,650 OBUs installed in volunteer participants' cars was $1,611,847, equivalent to $608 per OBU (cost does not include fees paid to the volunteers, management of their participation, or Internal Review Board activity). In addition, $23,200 was budgeted for configuration and testing costs.
• The City of Columbus spent $1,841,500 on 1,800 OBUs for the Smart Columbus project, equivalent to $1,023 per OBU.
• UDOT hardware costs were $900 per OBU for the 25 OBUs installed to enable TSP for its joint project with Utah Transit Authority to implement the 11-mile Provo-Orem BRT service. In addition, it estimates $7,500 for antennas and cabling, $58,000 for OBU installation, verification, configuration, and testing, and $12,000 for Linux processors and supporting equipment installed and tested in each vehicle.
• FDOT quotes a per unit cost of $8,300 for the US 90 SPaT project in Tallahassee with 4 OBUs, and $1,800 each for 71 OBUs for its Gainesville SPaT Trapezium project.
• VDOT / VTTI reports the cost for 72 OBUs used in the Virginia Connected Corridors Test Beds to be $78,600 (roughly $1,100 per OBU).
• GDOT reports the cost of 53 OBUs to support the partial deployment of planned CV infrastructure at 1,700 intersections in metro Atlanta to be $50,350, equivalent to $950 per OBU.

On-Board Unit - Design, Deployment, Integration, Testing Cost Component

• MnDOT cites $60,000 for 6 OBUs for its Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.
• The City of Columbus, for Smart Columbus's 1,800 OBUs, cites $216,000 for project management, $1.2 million for installation, and $99,000 for testing and acceptance.

Backhaul Network - Fiber Optic Cable (design, ROW, install) Cost Component

• MnDOT spent approximately $100,000 on back office communication and backhaul upgrades for its 22-signal Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.
• Colorado DOT estimated the cost of 204 miles of fiber optic cable in rural regions along I-70 and I-76 at $36.3 million total. $29 million was for construction capital and $7.3 million was for professional services (no additional Right-of-Way was required) - for its planned Internet of Roads CV services deployment.
• UMTRI cites the cost to perform minor back office communications upgrades for the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment to include approximately $287,000 in equipment and $1.81 million in planning and design.

Backhaul Network - IPv6 Upgrade Cost Component

• MnDOT spent approximately $43,000 on an upgrade to IPv6 for its 22-signal Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.

Backhaul Network - Security Credential Management System Cost Component

• MnDOT spent about $100,000 on an SCMS for its 22-signal Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region. It estimates ongoing consultant support at $15,000 per year.
• UMTRI cites the cost for a third-party production SCMS as $150,000 for 3 years for the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment.
• GDOT roughly estimates the cost of implementing a SCMS for the full deployment of planned CV infrastructure at 1,700 intersections in metro Atlanta to be $240,000.

Back Office / Transportation Management Center (TMC) - Data Cost Component

• MnDOT cites about $131,000 in costs for upfront purchase and integration of third party data for its 22-signal Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.
• UDOT estimates $16,000 for corridor data collection and development of corridor image tiles to support TSP for its joint project with Utah Transit Authority to implement the 11-mile Provo-Orem BRT service.

CV Platform and Application - Systems Engineering and Development Cost Component

• WYDOT budgeted about $901,000 for application development for its I-80 pilot which included Incident Scene Work Zone Alerts for Drivers and Workers, Road Weather Motorist Alert and Warning, Spot Weather Impact Warning, Advanced Traveler Information System, in-vehicle signage, Do Not Pass Warning, and Variable Speed Limit.
• MnDOT cites about $412,000 for its 22-signal Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region for SPaT, Eco-Traffic Signal Timing, Reduced Speed Zone Warning, snow plow signal priority, and Mobile Accessible Pedestrian Signal System.
• The City of Columbus reports a $210,980 contract for application systems engineering and development related to the 1,800 OBUs installed on private, emergency, transit, and freight vehicles used in the Smart Columbus project.
• UDOT estimates the cost for modifying the existing Multi-Modal Intelligent Traffic Signal System software developed at the University of Arizona for use on its initial TSP deployment along the Utah Transit Authority's 11-mile Redwood Road corridor at more than $500,000. For its second TSP deployment along the 11-mile Provo-Orem BRT corridor, incremental development costs are estimated to be $9,000 to adjust the algorithms for non-orthogonal intersection approaches.
• FDOT estimates approximately $336,200 for its 50-RSU Gainesville SPaT Trapezium project.
• VDOT / VTTI estimates the labor cost for client and server development for its Virginia Connected Corridors Test Beds to be $497,700.
• GDOT estimates the cost of CV application systems engineering and development for the partial deployment (roughly 650 of 1,700 intersections) of CV applications in metro Atlanta to be $619,500. There is little additional cost to implement the apps at the remaining 1,050 intersections.

CV Platform and Application - Analytics Cost Component

• MnDOT cites about $367,000 for an analytics platform / back office technology for its 22-signal Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.
• UDOT estimates $7,000 to conduct simulation runs to verify software operations and to perform MAP verification to support TSP for its joint project with Utah Transit Authority to implement the 11-mile Provo-Orem BRT service.
• FDOT estimates $59,500 for an RSU central management system for its 50-RSU Gainesville SPaT Trapezium project. It also estimates $156,300 for implementation plans, system integration, testing, validation, and verification for the complete project system (50 RSUs, 27 signal locations, and 71 OBUs).
• VDOT / VTTI estimates the cost of all hardware and software integration (engineering labor) for its VA Connected Corridor Test Beds to be $306,500.
• GDOT estimates the cost of planning and designing the back office analytics for the partial deployment (roughly 650 of 1,700 intersections) of CV applications in metro Atlanta to be $85,000. There is little additional cost to implement the apps at the remaining 1,050 intersections.
• UMTRI estimates the cost upgrading its CV platform / analytics to manage the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment to be $762,000. The upgrade builds on investment made under the prior 3-year Safety Pilot Model Deployment.

CV Platform and Application - Back Office Provisioning of Messages to Application Cost Component

• WSDOT lists the per RSU / signal cost of MAP file configuration as $220 for its SR 522 Corridor SPaT deployment.
• The City of Marysville, OH quotes $1,600 per intersection for its Connected Marysville project with 27 traffic signals.
• FDOT estimates $11,700 for SPaT and MAP data for 27 project signal locations for its 50-RSU Gainesville SPaT Trapezium project.
• GDOT estimates the cost for the partial deployment (roughly 650 of 1,700 intersections) of CV applications in metro Atlanta to be $130,800. There is little additional cost to implement the applications at the remaining 1,050 intersections.

Other Costs - ITS Architecture Update Cost Component

• WYDOT budgeted about $574,000 for system architecture and design for its I-80 pilot.

Other Costs - Workforce Addition / Training Cost Component

• MnDOT states it is spending about $90,000 for workforce development and training related to deployment, configuration, and testing for its 22- signal Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.
• WYDOT budgeted about $187,000 for participant and staff training for its I-80 pilot.
• The City of Columbus spent $65,000 on identifying, hiring, and training local staff to support OBU installation for 1,800 OBUs installed on private, emergency, transit, and freight vehicles used in the Smart Columbus project. In addition, their vendor estimated $110,200 in staff time for the installation.
• FDOT quotes costs of $1,250 for 25 hours of telephone support, $8,000 for 16 hours of training support, and $20,000 for 160 hours of on-site and configuration support for its 35-RSU US 90 SPaT project in Tallahassee. FDOT reports $7,800 in costs for training support on hardware and software for its 50-RSU Gainesville SPaT Trapezium project.

Other Costs - Industry-wide CV Standards Committee Participation Cost Component

• MnDOT states it is spending about $12,000 for its 22-signal Connected Corridor project along Hwy 55 in the Twin Cities region.
• WYDOT budgeted about $51,000 for its I-80 pilot.

Other Costs - Program Management Cost Component

• UDOT estimates $17,000 for project management efforts by a consultant (not including in-house efforts) for its joint project with Utah Transit Authority to implement TSP on the 11-mile Provo-Orem BRT service.
• VDOT / VTTI incurred $329,500 in research faculty / project management costs for its Virginia Connected Corridors Test Beds development.

Recurring - System Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Cost Component

• WSDOT lists the ongoing O&M for its 10 RSU / signal deployment along SR 522 as $2,000-$3,000 per year per intersection.
• WYDOT budgeted about $448,000 for system operations and maintenance for the 18-month operational phase of its I-80 pilot.
• UMTRI estimates the O&M costs for the Ann Arbor Connected Vehicle Test Environment at $1.2 million per year.
• VDOT / VTTI reports the O&M cost for 65 RSUs used in the Virginia Connected Corridors Test Beds to include a $733 / month third-party contract for power cycles and physical maintenance, $150 / year per RSU maintenance charge from the supplier plus $430 / year for software development kit maintenance. In addition, there is a $150 / year per OBU software maintenance charge from the supplier, and a $676 / month telecommunication charge for 50 phones serving as the Human Machine Interface in equipped vehicles.