Incentivize participation in CV deployments through benefits such as toll discounts

Success Stories from the USDOT’s Connected Vehicle Pilot Program

Date Posted
12/19/2017
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Identifier
2017-L00792

Lessons Learned

The THEA project involves installing radios and computers in over 1600 vehicles (including private cars, buses, and streetcars) and in over 40 fixed locations at downtown intersections to enable ultra-fast vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and smart phone-to-infrastructure communication. THEA’s project plans include plans for recruiting 1580 volunteer drivers who agree to have Onboard Units (OBUs) and communications equipment installed in their cars, undergo training, and participate in in the operations phase by driving in the Tampa downtown area and/or on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway’s Reversible Express Lanes (REL).

Much of the direct recruitment was done through targeted emails. THEA distributed a series of three or four emails to specific subsets of THEA customers, with messages tailored to those audiences. For example, the series of recruitment emails sent to toll tag users who already use the REL regularly emphasized the opportunity to receive a 30 percent toll rebate on their daily commute. The rebate takes effect when the equipment is installed, so there is an incentive to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. A news release with the header "Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority Seeks Volunteers to Test Connected Vehicle Technology" attracted coverage from several local TV stations as well as the Tampa Bay Times, leading to an immediate boost in signups.

Every driver must complete the online eligibility questionnaire and schedule an installation appointment. Just two months after recruitment began, more than 1,200 people had completed the online eligibility questionnaire, and 800 of them had scheduled appointments.

THEA points to the following keys to their success in recruiting participants:

  • Consistent branding, including revising the project website, with emphasis on people and a feeling of personal connection.
  • Starting with an existing base of THEA customers
  • Arranging for a toll rebate for participation as a driver on the REL
  • Identifying key players downtown and meeting with them personally.
  • Developing a seamless online process for taking the prescreening questionnaire and scheduling an installation appointment.
  • Providing a Help Desk phone number so prospective participants (and later, actual participants) can ask questions.
  • Anticipating prospective participants’ questions and addressing those questions in various online resources. For example, anticipating that a big concern would be "What are you going to install in my car?" a graphic was developed that shows the size and location of the connected vehicle equipment on a typical car.
  • Remaining active on social media throughout the recruitment phase and giving the messaging a "fun" feel.
  • Creating partnership packets for downtown stakeholders’ use, so their messaging will complement our own. For example, suggested social media content was provided so project partners could share recruitment messages via their own channels

Connected Vehicle Deployment Technical Assistance: Roadside Unit (RSU) Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Connected Vehicle Deployment Technical Assistance: Roadside Unit (RSU) Lessons Learned and Best Practices
Source Publication Date
05/01/2020
Author
Schneeberger, J.D.; Amy O’Hara; Kellen Shain; Linda Nana, David Benevelli; Tony English; Steve Johnson; Steve Novosad; and Bob Rausch
Publisher
USDOT Federal Highway Administration
Other Reference Number
FHWA-JPO-20-804

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