The Yakima Project was initiated to enhance safety along the US-97 corridor, particularly in the Toppenish and Wapato areas. This project aims to identify key factors contributing to severe crashes in the region and leverage advanced technologies to improve roadway safety.
As part of this effort, the Yakama Nation plans to deploy intelligent traffic sensors along the corridor to monitor risky driving behaviors and analyze safety-related data. The research team will collaborate with the Yakama Nation to update their safety management plan based on the project's findings and historical safety data.
The University of Washington’s STAR Lab will apply its expertise in intelligent sensing, AI-driven data analysis, and smart transportation solutions to develop data-driven strategies for enhancing roadway safety in tribal areas.
This project represents a collaborative effort to integrate cutting-edge technology with evidence-based safety interventions, ultimately improving transportation safety for the Yakama Nation and the broader community.
Figure 1. Yakima Project: Enhancing road safety through Edge AI-powered traffic monitoring, real-time road condition detection, private 5G communication, and VMS integration in collaboration with the Yakama Nation