 Beyond Highway Construction
Below is an update to an NCSL brief that was released on March 17, 2009.
The original brief describes American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) surface transportation provisions and makes the case for ITS projects as innovative, cost-effective alternatives for ARRA highway infrastructure and grant funds.  Download PDF version.
NOTE: Additional information about state investment of ARRA highway funds in intelligent transportation systems (ITS), updated June 21, 2010, is available under "Other Publications and Resources" on the NCSL Transportation Operations and ITS Overview page.
UPDATE
July 1, 2009
By Jaime Rall
President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. After set-asides, the "highway infrastructure investment" portion of the legislation apportioned $26.66 billion to states for highway and bridge projects as well as other surface transportation, passenger and freight rail, and port infrastructure investments. States were mandated to obligate at least half the money (excluding suballocations) by June 29, 2009, and the rest by March 2, 2010.
Soon after the enactment of ARRA, NCSL released a briefing paper entitled Beyond Highway Construction: Alternative Uses for Transportation Funding from America's Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This paper described the ARRA highway infrastructure investment provisions and made the case for investing these funds in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which use advanced technology to enhance the capacity and performance of existing transportation infrastructure. ITS projects can be cost-effective and quick to implement, have high benefit-cost ratios, and provide short- and long-term benefits. Further, these kinds of projects create jobs, with about 50 percent of spending going to direct labor, compared to 20 percent on new highway construction.
This update to the Beyond Highway Construction paper looks at states' progress with ARRA highway infrastructure projects as of the first obligation deadline, with a focus on states' investments in ITS projects and additional ARRA funding opportunities for such projects.
States' Implementation of ARRA Highway Infrastructure Investment Provisions
Jeffrey Paniati, executive director of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), testified on June 25 at a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing that all 50 states' departments of transportation were expected to successfully meet the first obligation deadline for ARRA highway infrastructure investment funds. As of June 22, FHWA had approved over 4,836 road and bridge projects worth $15.4 billion, representing almost 60 percent of the total ARRA funds provided for highway infrastructure investments. Over 1,500 of these projects were already underway in 45 states, the District of Columbia and Central Federal Lands.
States' Investment of ARRA Funds in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Projects
As of the first obligation deadline, at least 26 states have dedicated ARRA funds to ITS projects, as documented on their ARRA 1511 certifications or on the amended state transportation plans referenced on those certifications. These 26 states and descriptions of some of their ITS projects are listed below. This list is also available as a PDF.
Project categories include investments in advanced traffic management and traveler information systems (including CCTV, dynamic message signs, traffic advisory radio, radar-based vehicle detectors, loop installation, and fiber optic connection and expansion), improvements to traffic signal timing and coordination, ramp metering systems, electronic toll systems, truck parking management systems, and road weather information systems (RWIS). Most ARRA-funded ITS projects are in urban areas.
State Sample ITS Project Descriptions
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State
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Sample ITS Project Descriptions
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Alabama
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· Adjust traffic signal timing at various existing traffic signals in the city of Mobile.
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Arizona
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· Freeway Management System on I-10.
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California
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· Install traffic management systems in Sacramento metro area.
· Ramp metering system in Fresno.
· Install CCTV cameras, ITS cabinets, and changeable message signs in Placer County.
· Install traffic management systems elements (changeable message signs, CCTV, and vehicle monitoring stations) to manage freeway traffic in San Mateo County.
· Traffic signal improvements in various locations.
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Colorado
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· I-25, U.S. 36 and C-470: Install highway-entry signals on ramps.
· I-70 West truck parking at Dotsero: Install various truck parking management components (electronic signs, closed-circuit cameras, power and communications systems) to provide notification during inclement weather.
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Delaware
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· I-95 Newark Toll Plaza: Incorporate two highway-speed E-ZPass lanes in the northbound and southbound lanes.
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Florida
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· Expand Manatee County ATMS, Phase II: Integrate 95 signals into existing system.
· South Florida AET (all electronic tolling), Phase III (SR 836 to Turnpike Mainline-HEFT).
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Georgia
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· CR 5190/South and North Hairston Road at 7 locations (ATMS/ITS).
· SR13/Buford Hwy FM north of Dekalb County Line to Sugarloaf Parkway (ATMS/ITS).
· Sugarloaf Parkway FM SR 20 to Peachtree Industrial Blvd (ATMS/ITS).
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Hawaii
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· Honolulu Traffic Management Center auxiliary power facility: Provide auxiliary power needed to support critical operations during prolonged power outages due to emergencies.
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Indiana
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· I-465 Phase V of the Indianapolis Advanced Traffic Management System.
· Indianapolis ITS Traffic Management System: I-70 fiber optics from North Split to INDOT.
· Indianapolis ITS Traffic Management System: CCTV camera lowering devices.
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Kansas
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· Operation Green Light System Enhancement: signal retiming, vehicle detection, PTZ cameras, OGL location expansion, communications tower, wireless upgrade.
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Maryland
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· Dynamic message signs deployment.
· Traffic detection at signalized intersections.
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Massachusetts
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· Improve the ITS system in the Boston region by installing additional fiber, cameras, and backup batteries in the City of Boston, installing fiber links and switches to improve operation of the MassHighway traffic Control Center, and installing cameras at East Milton Square correcting a blind spot in the regional ITS system.
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Michigan
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· Install fiber-optic cable, I-96 to I-196.
· Install dynamic message signs in various locations.
· Install environmental sensors at various locations throughout the north region.
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Minnesota
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· Coordinate signalized corridors.
· Upgrade the ICON Traffic Management System in the St. Cloud Metro Area.
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Mississippi
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· Gulf Regional Planning Commission: Video system/ITS region-wide; traffic video detection and surveillance.
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New Jersey
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· Traffic signal improvements in Morris County and Monmouth County: Install video detection systems and some signalized intersections.
· Upgrade and coordination of eight signalized intersections on CR 541/Stokes Road, Burl County: Signalized intersections will be upgraded and coordinated with the existing signal coordination system in the county and operated from the county's Traffic Operations Center. The system will provide traffic signal coordination for improved vehicle progression, detect and report traffic signal malfunctions, and automatically collect and archive traffic data. CCTV cameras for incident management will also be installed.
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New York
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· Automated traffic management system and information system: Install acoustic vehicle detectors on Cross-County Parkway in Westchester County.
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North Carolina
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· Install ITS devices on I-440 from the I-40 interchange to I-40/US 1-64.
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Ohio
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· District 12 (Cleveland Area) ITS Freeway Management System.
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Oklahoma
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· Traffic signal upgrades and interconnect in Cleveland County.
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Oregon
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· Traffic Control Enhancement: Improves mobility and safety by updating 277 signals and software (Portland).
· Adaptive Traffic Control: Improves mobility and safety by updating signals at 19 intersections (Redmond).
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Pennsylvania
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· Install ITS devices on I-95 in various locations in Bucks, Delaware, and Philadelphia Counties (I-95 ITS Extension, Bucks County ITS Phase II).
· ITS in Dauphin and Lancaster Counties, as well as on I-78 and SR 61 in Berks County: Install traffic advisory radios, cameras, and message signs.
· ITS in York County: Install traffic advisory radios and signing.
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Rhode Island
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· Additional traffic cameras for traffic management center for I-295.
· Install radar-based vehicle detectors at same location as existing traffic cameras to collect data on traffic volume and speeds. The new detectors provide alerts to TMC operators to announce increasing traffic congestion. This technology will allow RIDOT to post travel time on electronic message signs (40 locations).
· Traffic monitoring stations: Install radar-based vehicle detectors in several locations to collect data on traffic volume, speed, and vehicle classification used for annual reporting requirements and TMC traffic flow maps (37 stations plus 6 stations for vehicle classifications).
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South Carolina
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· Connect fiber optic cable to existing cameras and CMC signs (I-26, I-77, and I-526 in Charleston and Lexington counties).
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Utah
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· US 89 fiber optic connection (Weber County).
· Wasatch Boulevard traffic signal interconnect (SR 190 in Salt Lake County).
· Vernal City signal interconnect (US-40 in Uintah County)
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Washington
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· Install fiber, cameras, and data stations in the I-5 corridor.
· Replace cameras on Snoqualmie Pass with current standard cameras.
· Replace portable Highway Advisory Radio System (HAR) trailers on SR 20 and US 395 with permanent HAR stations, and install a new station in the vicinity of the Hatton Coulee Rest Area.
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As of June 26, 2009, the Federal Highway Administration estimated that over $750 million had been invested in ARRA-funded operations and ITS projects. This is approximately 4 to 5 percent of all ARRA funds requested for highway projects. This figure includes some non-ITS interventions that also enhance the performance of transportation systems, such as replacing and upgrading signs. Pennsylvania alone has dedicated nearly $82 million for ITS projects across the state.
News articles about states' ARRA-funded ITS projects are available at stateline.org and Transport Topics Online.
Additional Sources of ARRA Funding for ITS Projects
Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants
The ARRA made an additional $1.5 billion available for surface transportation projects through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grant program. TIGER Discretionary Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a region, or a metropolitan area, and can create jobs and stimulate the economy. In addition, projects will be evaluated on the basis of partnership and innovation. Innovation is defined largely by the extent to which technologies such as ITS are used.
In addition, up to $200 million of TIGER Discretionary Grant funding can be used for projects that are eligible for federal credit assistance through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA). Applications for these "TIGER TIFIA payments" will also be evaluated partly by the extent to which the project uses new technologies such as ITS to enhance project efficiency.
TIGER Discretionary Grants can fund highway or bridge projects, public transportation projects, passenger and freight rail projects, or port infrastructure projects, among others. Grants can range from $20 to $300 million, and the grant minimum can be waived for projects in smaller cities, regions or states. No more than 20 percent of the program funds can be granted to a single state. Applications are due by Sept. 15, 2009, and can be submitted by state or local governments, including MPOs, U.S. territories, tribal governments, transit agencies, port authorities, or multi-state or multi-jurisdictional applicants.
Additional information about the TIGER Discretionary Grant program can be found in the May 18 Federal Register and the June 17 Federal Register, as well as on the DOT website and the NCSL Economic Recovery web page. Also, ITS America's recently published white paper “Delivering ITS Solutions through TIGER Discretionary Grants” promotes the use of TIGER Discretionary Grants for ITS-related projects and provides information about how to apply.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program
The ARRA makes $3.2 billion available to subfederal entities ($767 million to states) through the Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. Energy-conserving transportation projects—including several types of ITS or operations projects—are eligible for funds. Applications were originally due by June 25, 2009, but the deadline has been extended to August 10, 2009. Details for the program can be found at FedConnect, entering "Recovery Act - EECBG" as your search term, as well as on the Department of Energy website. Information about the deadline extension can be found here.
For More Information about ARRA Transportation Provisions
Additional information and updates about ARRA transportation provisions can be found on the NCSL Economic Recovery web page.
Links to state recovery websites, state DOT recovery pages and NCSL, federal, state and organizational resources with information about ARRA transportation provisions and state projects are also on the NCSL website. For more information contact Jaime Rall.
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