The 33 Smart Mobility Corridor’s connected vehicle environment is taking another step forward with approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC approved licenses for short range, wireless vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) technology installed along the corridor, which can now be used for connected and automated vehicle testing and research.
The licenses allow 33 Smart Mobility projects, including Connected Dublin, Connected Marysville and DriveOhio initiatives, to transmit safety messages to and from outfitted vehicles traveling in The Beta District, the newly named area that stretches from Columbus through Dublin and Marysville to Honda and the Transportation Research Center Inc. in East Liberty.
“These licenses are a critical item on our checklist as we prepare to launch several smart mobility initiatives in The Beta District,” said Megan O’Callaghan, Dublin’s deputy city manager and a COG board member. The State of Ohio and COG partners have extended fiber-optic broadband, installed 100+ roadside units with radio transmitters and upgraded the electric capacity to support vehicle testing. Our last step is to equip at least 200 fleet vehicles with safety features to warn drivers of upcoming red lights or when a pedestrian is crossing the road ahead, for example.” O’Callaghan said that would be completed this fall.