by Katie McLaughlin, P.E., is a consultant at WSP USA. This article appears in the July/August issue of ARTBA’s Transportation Builder magazine.
Automated vehicles and connected infrastructure promise smarter, safer transportation networks. Resolving the challenges of designing vehicles that safely and independently operate in varying conditions is taking longer than optimistic estimates projected just a few years ago. But the need for transportation professionals to design, build, and support a safer transportation network remains as urgent as ever. Last year, for example, U.S. roadway deaths increased even as traffic volumes decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
