The rise of Tesla has ignited hopes of a future where autonomous vehicles would maximize efficiency and minimize accidents, while enabling drivers and passengers to read a book, work or watch a movie without paying attention to the road. While these aspirations may still be years away, the same underlying technology is already helping to alleviate traffic in other ways.

Greetings! 2019 has been quite a year. I feel like I’ve seen more change over the last ten months than in my previous 23 years in the traffic industry. That may sound extreme, but big things are happening! C-V2X advances from Ford, the growth of the 5GAA and the announcement of the iATL in Alpharetta have created tremendous momentum in the traffic industry. What’s amazing is that 2020 looks to build on where we’ve been and push the market even further.

When responding to an emergency, traffic congestion and red lights aren’t merely an inconvenience for first responders; they represent a critical delay in helping those in need. The Glance Preemption and Priority System uses a combination of hardware and software, working seamlessly together, to clear the path and get firefighters and first responders get to their destination faster and safer.

The first wave of 5G technology rolled out late last year when AT&T quietly launched 5G hotspots in nineteen cities and Verizon began selling the Moto Z3 — the world’s first 5G-enabled phone. While it could be years until 5G networks are as ubiquitous as 4G LTE, many companies are actively developing technologies to take advantage of the higher speed and lower latency of 5G networks.

The rise of high-speed cellular connectivity, big data analytics, autonomous vehicles and other technologies has created enormous opportunities for local governments. These technologies could help reduce traffic congestion and emissions, improve safety and operational efficiency, and better engage citizens.

Public transportation could unlock anywhere from $1.5 million to $1.8 billion per year in value depending on the size of the city, according to a study by Rutgers University. These benefits come from many different places. Riders that don’t need to purchase a second vehicle can save nearly $10,000 per year.