Vehicles known as Truck Mounted Attenuators (TMA), impact protection vehicles, and crash attenuators, follow behind a highway maintenance vehicle, shielding other workers and equipment ahead from errant drivers entering the work zone. Driving a TMA is recognized as one of the most dangerous assignments in a work zone. This project will demonstrate and evaluate autonomous TMA technology under a diverse set of operational design domains and environments, and plan to identify and address current barriers that have prevented transportation agencies from deploying this innovative technology at scale. The project has the potential to significantly improve safety for highway maintenance workers. In Colorado, the project will take place in Kit Carson, Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, La Plata, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties, of which all but La Plata County are considered disadvantaged communities by CEJST.
