$4.8 million grant to be used on new ‘smart corridor’ in Waco

WACO – Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) new $4.8 million federal planning grant will be used to create a “smart corridor" along Franklin Ave that would maximize transportation efficiency using several types of data.

The nine-mile smart corridor will stretch from US 84 and Ritchie Rd. in Woodway, continuing along Franklin where it splits from 84, then to near the end of Taylor St. after Franklin transitions to Taylor in East Waco.

Data taken from sensors in the road could alert drivers of upcoming slowdowns and suggest alternate routes, might alter a speed limit, close a lane on the fly, or predict a slowdown based on patterns or obstacles along the route.

The project will also take the challenge of equity and embed it into transportation planning. Focusing on small projects in one specific area is a hindrance to mobility in its own way, said MPO Director Mukesh Kumar.​