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Principal Investigator: Jun Liu (University of Alabama)
Other Investigators: Steven Jones (UA), Evangelos Kaisar (FAU), Reginald Souleyrette (UKY)
Project Partners: Florida Atlantic University (FAU), University of Alabama (UA), University of Kentucky (UKY)
Research Project Funding: $412,917 (Federal: $255,715; Non-Federal: $157,201)
Project Status: Completed
Project Start and End Date: 08/01/2023 to 07/31/2025
Project Summary: The project aims to investigate the benefits and costs associated with connected and automated vehicle (CAV) deployment in rural areas. It involves conducting a comprehensive literature review to gather insights on the benefits and challenges of CAV deployment. Data collection and analysis will be performed to identify specific transportation challenges in rural communities. An inventory of CAV technologies suitable for rural areas will be compiled, examining their functionalities and potential benefits. The project will develop scenarios to explore different futures for CAV deployment, considering factors such as CAV penetration levels and technological advancements. Mapping CAV technology deployments to transportation challenges will be done to highlight potential solutions. A benefit-cost analysis will quantify the economic and social benefits of CAV deployment, including improved safety, mobility, accessibility and social justice, and reduced environmental impacts. The outcomes of the project will provide valuable insights into the benefits and costs of CAV deployment in rural areas, improving decision making and aiding in the selection of appropriate strategies and policies. The project is expected to help advance knowledge of CAV deployment in rural areas and provide guidance for future planning and implementation efforts.
Zhang, Z., Liu, J., Qian, X., Guo, S., Yang, C., & Jones, S. (2025). Envisioning shared autonomous vehicles (SAVs) for 374 small and medium-sized urban areas in the United States: The roles of road network and travel demand. Journal of Transport Geography, 127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2025.104302
TBD
Examining Spatial Disparities in Safety Benefits from Automated Vehicle Adoption in Alabama and Kentucky, Javier Peña-Bastidas (UA), April 15, 2026, Southeast Annual Symposium on Freight and Mobility, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Examining Spatial Disparities in Safety Benefits from Automated Vehicle Adoption in Alabama and Kentucky, Javier Pena-Bastidas (UA), Praveena Penmetsa (UA), Southeast Annual Symposium on Freight and Mobility, April 14-16, 2026, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Spatial Disparities in Safety Benefits of Adopting Automated Vehicle Technologies Across Rural Communities, Javier Pena-Bastidas (UA), Ningzhe Xu (UA), Jun Liu (UA), Steven Jones (UA), Reg Souleyrette (UKY), Joint CATM and CR2C2 Symposium, April 17-18, 2024.
Acknowledgement: Funding for this research was provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), University Transportation Centers Program, through the Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) under Grant No. 69A3552348304.