Smart Mobility Lab

In 2025, the City of Alexandria advanced its smart infrastructure goals by launching the Virginia Tech Smart Mobility Lab (SML), supported by funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This investment established lab operations and initiated key research and technology development to attract and engage industry partners. Designed for long-term impact, the SML will be sustained through public and private sector collaboration and will focus on emerging smart mobility solutions, including secure data exchange systems, smart intersection safety technologies, and the development of mobility hubs to better connect transportation options and enhance the commuter experience.
Page updated on November 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
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Project Description: Smart Mobility Lab (SML)

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The Smart Mobility Lab (SML) is a collaborative initiative between the City of Alexandria and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) aimed at enhancing transportation efficiency, safety, and sustainability through advanced technologies and data-driven solutions.
The project is organized into four core phases: technology deployment, workforce development, student engagement, and stakeholder collaboration, designed to strengthen Alexandria’s position as a regional leader in smart mobility innovation.

The SML initiative will deploy and integrate AI-enabled traffic technologies, establish a workforce development program, and create a secure data exchange platform to facilitate research, education, and applied innovation. This effort supports Alexandria’s broader Digital Mobility Ecosystem vision, promoting equitable, data-informed decision-making and advancing next-generation transportation infrastructure.

 

Overall Project Status

The project is active and progressing toward completion of its deployment and educational objectives. The team has conducted multiple rounds of coordination between VTTI and the City of Alexandria to finalize procurement, integration, and evaluation of Smart Mobility Lab technologies at key intersections.

Workforce and student engagement components are underway, with graduate-level students participating in applied research projects leveraging SML data and infrastructure. Three additional educational workshops on smart mobility are being developed for municipal employees, students, and industry stakeholders.

Development of the data exchange software platform is in progress, with validation and security testing scheduled to ensure controlled access and interoperability between academic and City systems. Ongoing biweekly project management meetings ensure alignment across City departments and partner organizations.

A 12-month extension to the project’s period of performance has been requested to support completion of remaining integration, training, and community engagement tasks. The revised end date is September 30, 2026.

 

PROJECT TIMELINE

Planning and Design: 2023 to 2024
Deployment and Integration: 2024 to 2026
Workforce and Student Programs: 2024 to 2026
Evaluation and Reporting: Through September 2026