News

Here is a brief weekly update from the RTA business coalition — the voice of the regional business community on transportation.

A “new” way to turn left begins next week
While the RTA certainly focuses on major freeway, transit, and airport projects, we also look at less expensive opportunities for improvements including intersections. And there may be no more challenging aspect of intersections than left turns. We came up with a new concept called a “dynamic left turn intersection” — or “DLTi” — that reduces the number of available left-turn lanes from two to one during off-peak periods to enable a flashing yellow arrow.  A first-in-the-nation pilot will be installed and activated by NCDOT in Cary next week. For more information, view our DLTi webpage, read our FAQs, and this week’s Thursday Thoughts at 3 blog. See also this NCDOT video and diagram of the DLTi concept.

A new autonomous vehicle at NC State
This morning, NCDOT and NC State University commenced the launch of the “Connected Autonomous Shuttle Supporting Innovation” initiative, or “CASSI” for short, in a six month pilot on NC State’s Centennial Campus. CASSI represents North Carolina’s first electric, self-driving public transit shuttle; the 12-person vehicle traveling in along a pre-determined route on Centennial will serve as a real-life test bed for understanding how people respond to innovative approaches to last-mile mobility. I rode a similar vehicle in Las Vegas a few years ago during a pilot there and found it fascinating; I look forward to seeing how CASSI does for us here.

Thank you for your investment in the regional business community’s voice on transportation!

Let’s get moving,

Joe

Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA Executive Director