Presentation: 2025 ND EPSCoR Annual conference 

October 21, 2025, NDSU Memorial Union, Fargo, North Dakota

Rural CAV Policy and Operations: Legislative Review and Microsimulation Analysis on North Dakota’s I-29 Corridor

The deployment of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) in rural regions offers opportunities while facing challenges from limited infrastructure, harsh weather, and public trust. This study combines a fifty-state legislative review with a microsimulation-based evaluation of CAV operations on North Dakota’s I-29 corridor to link policy readiness with performance outcomes. The legislative review identifies gaps in liability frameworks, cybersecurity, testing permits, and infrastructure investment. Recommended actions include harmonized permitting, standardized liability provisions, and prioritized enhancements such as traffic signals and broadband to support rural CAV integration. The operational analysis uses PTV VISSIM to model five CAV penetration levels (20%–100%) under two driver behavior frameworks: the internal Wiedemann 99 model with CoEXist Cautious, Normal, and Aggressive profiles, and an external Intelligent Driver Model (IDM) implemented via a C++ Dynamic Link Library (DLL). The models were calibrated and validated using traffic volume, vehicle classification, and speed data from the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT). Performance measures included average delay, stops, and travel speed during peak periods, with outputs also applied for safety analysis using the Surrogate Safety Assessment Model (SSAM). At full CAV penetration, both models reduced delays compared with the baseline, 89.7% for Wiedemann 99 and 92.1% for IDM in the PM peak, with similar AM reductions. Both eliminated stops, while IDM achieved greater speed gains of 40%–80%. Safety analysis showed conflict reductions of 68.2% for Wiedemann 99 and 76.5% for IDM. Aligning legislative frameworks with realistic simulations can improve rural interstate safety and mobility.