Imagine a world where you could get a lift from a driver-less car or drive completely hands-free. That’s what the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise are working on at SunTrax, a 475-acre vehicle research + development facility located near Florida Polytechnic University.
Phase One of construction on the facility began in 2017, and Phase Two was completed in June 2023. Here’s a look at what was included in each phase:
🚗 Phase One
A 2.25-mile oval test track has been operational since 2019. It’s used to test autonomous vehicles and new toll technologies with four overhead toll gantries. The track is designed for high-speed travel up to 70 mph.
🚗 Phase Two
The 200-acre infield was the focus of Phase Two. It includes several testing environments, such as:
- Geometry track with grade changes
- Loop track with entrance + exit ramps and road construction/collision avoidance testing
- Urban simulations using shipping containers that can be reconfigured like city buildings
- Suburban and pick-up/drop-off areas that replicate airports, hotels, and more
- Noise, vibration, and harshness testing areas with eight pavement surfaces
- Technology pad
- Wet test tracks
Phase Two also includes the Main Entry Campus, featuring flexible space for a 20,000-sqft conference center, classrooms, event space, and a full-service cafe. The infield will also house maintenance and workshop bays, plus a 75-ft observation tower to catch all the action happening in the tests.
The price tag on a project this large? $141.2 million. The infield is officially open for testing, but you can see it for yourself with this 360 degree virtual tour.
