Dedicated Lane Effect on AV Operation Case Study: Trinity Metro

Abstract: The introduction of Connected and Automated Transit Vehicles offers various social and economic benefits, but safety issues arise when these vehicles mix with human-driven vehicles (HDVs). This study presents three scenarios for the Trinity Metro Route 89 Spur to support the deployment of SAE Level 4 automated transit vehicles in Fort Worth, Texas. The first scenario examines the performance of a typical AV within existing infrastructure. The second scenario considers a typical AV on enhanced infrastructure, specifically a dedicated center lane. The third scenario evaluates a vendor-specific AV on the enhanced infrastructure with the dedicated center lane. Each scenario was analyzed using AV-Readi™, a patent-pending process for behavioral mapping of AV capabilities onto roadways. This tool calculates a complexity index score for the route, helping infrastructure owners and operators (IOOs) assess roadway readiness for AV deployment. The assessment identified an "extreme" complexity location with overpasses likely to hinder typical AV operation due to GPS signal degradation or loss. The selected vendor's AV, with robust relative localization, can operate in GPS-degraded areas. Findings include: Scenario 1 scores the highest on the complexity index (8.52/10), indicating significant deployment challenges for a typical AV. Scenario 2, with enhanced infrastructure, scores better (6.67/10) but remains in the medium-low category for AV deployment readiness. Scenario 3 has a medium-low complexity score (2.73/10), indicating high readiness for this specific vendor to deploy on this route. These results highlight deployment challenges and can inform mitigation strategies and vendor selection.