Stantec implements smart mobility in Las Vegas

  • May 24, 2021
  • Steve Rogerson

Canadian design firm Stantec is implementing a mobility programme including autonomous shuttles for the Las Vegas Medical District (LVMD).

The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) in southern Nevada selected Stantec to lead the implementation of the GoMed programme, its vision for safer and more efficient travel to, from and within the LVMD.

The mobility programme will include planning and implementation for the seamless integration of autonomous vehicles (AVs), connected technologies, traffic and data management, and user software interface. The programme will be one of the first long-term deployments of AV shuttles in the world.

“We are delighted to be a partner in this cutting-edge project,” said Kate Jack, smart mobility lead at Stantec. “Las Vegas is leading the way in deploying autonomous vehicles to solve real-world problems, building a more sustainable transportation system for the future. By deploying these shuttles from downtown to the medical district, we are providing stress-free and accessible mobility for patients and staff.”

GoMed – also known as the automated circulator and connected pedestrian safety programme – is largely funded through a US Department of Transportation (DoT) Build programme award and will be jointly delivered by the RTC and the city of Las Vegas. The programme demonstrates the ability to apply connected and automated technology in a complex urban setting, and will integrate connected technologies such as automated pedestrian detection to enhance safety.

Las Vegas has been on the forefront of new mobility, including the Fremont Street pilot, the first driverless shuttle pilot in the USA, where Stantec staff provided programme management, vehicle testing plans and AV strategies.

Prioritising safety, accessibility, equity and a friendly user experience will be central to the GoMed strategy. The on-demand service offered by connected and autonomous technology aims to deliver patients and staff to LVMD locations and nearby transit facilities efficiently and comfortably, including those with disabilities. The technology applied to the 674-acre cluster of hospitals, clinics, and the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine will be scalable and replicable city-wide, providing potential long-term mobility for the Las Vegas Valley.

“We have a longstanding relationship with both the RTC and the city of Las Vegas, and we are thrilled to be part of this revolutionary project,” said Brian Norris, project manager and Stantec. “We see our role in this project as more than just a consultant – we’ll be a mobility partner to RTC and the city every step of the way from planning and implementation to ribbon cutting.”

The planning and engineering of vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) technology will be a critical component in the integration of connected technologies, from the user experience to traffic management, and all the sensors in between. AV vehicle planning, vendor selection and operational rollout will be guided by Stantec’s Generation AV deployment playbook.

Stantec’s smart mobility practice has been engaged in numerous projects, including the launch of Active-Aurora, Canada’s first connected vehicle testbed; Tennessee’s statewide traffic management centre upgrade; Tulsa OK’s mobility innovation strategy; and the engineering behind the intelligent transport systems that enabled autonomous shuttles in Montreal, the first self-driving vehicles on urban public roads in Québec.

In Dubai, Stantec worked with the Roads & Transport Authority to frame the city’s Self-Driving Code of Practice.