Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 28, 1994 TAG: 9402250036
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Del. Victor Thomas, D-Roanoke, can be forgiven for gushing: "This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It would be something unbelievable for this part of the state - white-collar jobs, big-time jobs."
Unbelievable. Maybe we can get there from here.
Thomas was talking about the news that the state and General Motors have formed a partnership to apply for $150 million in federal funds for research and development of smart-car/smart-road technology.
If they are successful, a good chunk of the research would likely take place at the Virginia Tech Center for Transportation, and on the proposed smart road linking Blacksburg and Interstate 81.
Imagine the pride and profile of the New River and Roanoke valleys if we were to help produce a worldwide electronic-navigation system, filled with fiber optics, sensors and other devices, that could guide traffic and prevent jams, wrecks and fatalities. This is not your father's Oldsmobile they're talking about.
Granted, the IQ of cars and roads likely will never be developed to the point that they are 100 percent safe, or smart enough to fix the congestion problems of a Northern Virginia. Other forms of transportation will have to be developed. But, eventually, smart-road technology could be developed to the point of automation: It could leave the driving to the system, as mass transit does today.
Granted, too, there's no assurance our state or region will be part of the laboratory attempting to breed computer-driven cars and roads. But the Tech center has already been designated as one of the nation's three major research programs for intelligent vehicle/highway systems. The point is: We're in a good position to go after it.
The research project itself would be a tremendous economic boost for this area, as well as for Virginia. What's more, it could give the state a big advantage in attracting some of the $300 billion in automotive manufacturing that is expected to be generated in the next couple of decades by the emerging smart-car/smart-road technology.
As of now, of course, the smart road between Blacksburg and I-81 still awaits construction funds. The potential for Virginia and General Motors winning a research grant offers a major, new incentive for legislators to come up with the construction dollars.
Virginia's teaming up with GM could prove a very important milestone for this region. Thomas is right: This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Our state and federal lawmakers ought to pull out all the stops going for it.
by CNB