Skip to main content

Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority seeks volunteers to test CV technology

After nearly two years of planning, design and testing, the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is now recruiting volunteer drivers and pedestrians for the Tampa Connected Vehicle (CV) Pilot. The pilot aims to demonstrate the safety, mobility and environmental benefits of connected vehicle technology. THEA expects to equip approximately 1,600 privately owned automobiles with connected vehicle technology by May 2018. Volunteers’ automobiles will be outfitted with devices that communicate other con
August 16, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
After nearly two years of planning, design and testing, the 7384 Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is now recruiting volunteer drivers and pedestrians for the Tampa Connected Vehicle (CV) Pilot.


The pilot aims to demonstrate the safety, mobility and environmental benefits of connected vehicle technology.

THEA expects to equip approximately 1,600 privately owned automobiles with connected vehicle technology by May 2018. Volunteers’ automobiles will be outfitted with devices that communicate other connected vehicles to help prevent crashes. The cars will also communicate with downtown traffic and pedestrian signals to enhance safety, improve traffic flow and even reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) will also equip 10 buses and 10 TECO Line streetcars with this technology.

Eligible participating drivers will receive a 30 per cent toll rebate on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway Reversible Express Lanes (REL).

Drivers must be 18 years of age or older, have a Florida driver’s license, own a car that is a 1996 model or newer and drive regularly on the REL or in the downtown deployment area. Prospective participants must take the online pre-screening questionnaire on the pilot %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal website false http://www.tampacvpilot.com/ false false%>to determine whether they are eligible.

Pedestrians will also be able to participate in the pilot by installing an app on their smartphones. The app, which is expected to be available for download in February 2018, will enable pedestrians to request a ‘walk’ signal at several intersections on Meridian Avenue. On some downtown streets, it will also issue an audible alert if a bus or streetcar is starting to move nearby.

Related Content

  • November 15, 2017
    Tampa Hillsborough Expressway seeks drivers for connected vehicle pilot
    The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) is recruiting volunteer drivers and pedestrians for the Tampa Connected Vehicle Pilot. The $21 million (£16 million) project aims to demonstrate the safety, mobility and environmental benefits of connected vehicle technology (CVP). THEA plans to equip 1,600 privately owned automobiles with this technology by mid-2018.
  • September 22, 2016
    Tampa Connected Vehicle Pilot program enters new phase
    The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) Connected Vehicle (CV) Pilot Deployment Program in the US is reaching its first major milestone and entering a new phase of development, bringing Tampa a step closer to the future of transportation. THEA’s project management team heads to Washington, DC, this week to meet with US Department of Transportation (USDOT) officials for the official kickoff of Phase 2, which will include the design and deployment of CV technology in downtown Tampa. The pilot,
  • July 28, 2017
    US connected vehicle pilot deployment sites launch new websites, videos
    The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) connected vehicle pilot locations, New York City (link https://www.cvp.nyc/), Wyoming (link https://wydotcvp.wyoroad.info/) and Tampa, Florida (link https://www.tampacvpilot.com/), have launched new websites and videos dedicated to their connected vehicle deployments. These three locations are leading the charge to deploy advanced wireless communications technology in their vehicles and on their roads in regions throughout the nation. The web sites provide informa
  • June 16, 2020
    Tampa uses Hyundai vehicles in CV pilot
    Demo of the tech in action on roads is expected in September