New technology to be tested at major University aimed to keep pedestrians safe

SAN ANTONIO — The Texas Department of Transportation and Texas A&M Transportation Institute will be gearing up for a unique project.

“The project is called Smarter Intersections and it’s equipping newer technology, ” said Katie Turnbull, Senior Research Fellow with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.

TxDOT and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute received a $1.9 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop a next-generation intersection that promises to improve safety for the most at-risk road users.

Soon five intersections on the campus of Texas A&M College State will have roadside unit traffic control signal system boxes to alert pedestrians and bicyclists.

“The buses communicate to an intersection that a bus is approaching, and the annunciation goes off and the signal is illuminated, ” added Turnbull.

The testing also includes a collision warning system to alert a bus driver if a pedestrian or bicyclist is getting too close to the bus.

“Initial testing will start in the August, July time-period, and then as students come back to campus everything will be up and operating to test over that six-month period, ” Turnbull said.

Turnball went on to say by March of 2025 the Texas A&M Transportation Institute will look at the data and will be able to learn more about the study and if was successful.

Not only will the agency evaluate the data but also interview the students and staff on campus to get their take on the initiative.