transportation review log

The Expanding Role of
Intelligent Transportation Systems

Matt Sundeen, Program Principal

September 2002

This Transportation Review was made possible through the support of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Introduction

Greater demands on the nation's highways and heightened concerns about terrorism in the wake of September 11 have generated renewed interest among lawmakers in the use of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). ITS encompasses a wide range of information and communications technologies-such as traffic cameras, ramp meters, dynamic message signs, traffic control centers, collision avoidance technologies, and more-that promise to improve transportation system operations.

Traditionally, the goal of ITS has been to ease the strain on the highway system by improving the quality, safety and capacity of existing infrastructure. This remains an important function. However, the events of September 11 have expanded the focus of ITS beyond the traditional roles of improving traffic congestion and travel conditions. Lawmakers now are examining the potential security benefits of technology in transportation systems.

This Transportation Review examines both the traditional role of ITS in surface transportation management and its emerging role in transportation security. The report focuses on ITS applications and the role of state legislatures in developing ITS programs.

Surface Transportation Management

In many states, highway congestion is a critical concern. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimates that, each year, motorists drive approximately 2.6 trillion miles, 80 percent more than they drove 20 years ago. The total number of drivers, according to FHWA, has increased by 30 percent since 1980 and continues to grow at a rate faster than the overall population.

More trucks also are travelling on our highways. Approximately 84 percent of the $7 trillion in freight shipped each year in the United States travels on highways. During the last 30 years, vehicle miles of truck travel have increased by 225 percent, and officials say that truck travel will grow at 3 percent annually for the next 20 years, nearly doubling the number of trucks on the road.

As more cars and trucks fill existing roads, traffic congestion has increased significantly. The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) [link to http://mobility.tamu.edu/ums/] estimates that 4.4 billion hours are lost to traffic delay each year. The resulting economic costs of traffic congestion--from slowdowns in freight shipping and delivery, lost production by employees, and other congestion-related phenomena--are dramatic. According to TTI, traffic congestion costs in the top urban areas in 1999 rose to $78 billion, up from $21 billion in 1982. The average motorist in those cities lost $625 per year in wasted time and fuel sitting in traffic.

For states with shrinking budgets, the expensive, time-consuming and environmentally challenging options to build new roads or add to existing roads have become a less appealing solution for traffic congestion. It is physically impossible in some urban communities to add sufficient infrastructure to relieve crowded highways. In addition, construction can take long periods of time, may create additional traffic hazards, and may lead to more congestion.

Construction has not kept pace with transportation needs. Some experts estimate that, between 1998 and 1999 alone, states would have needed to lay 1,800 new lane miles of freeway and 2,500 new lane miles of streets to ease traffic congestion in the United States. However, the total road mileage in the United States has increased by only 2 percent since 1980.

Transportation planners envision using ITS to get more from existing highways. In theory, by applying the latest technological advancements to the current infrastructure, states may be able to better manage surface transportation and help meet the increased demand for transportation capacity. Technology also may improve the quality of travel conditions and enhance traffic safety.

In recent years, ITS supporters have promoted a dazzling array of products for a wide variety of transportation management applications. The question for skeptical legislators, however, has always been whether expensive ITS technologies can translate into real-world benefits for constituents. In its 2001 analysis of ITS benefits, FHWA divided transportation technology applications into four categories: applications in metropolitan areas, ITS in rural communities, commercial vehicle operations, and technology in vehicles.

Metropolitan Applications

Traffic congestion, by its nature, is caused by many vehicles in a relatively small area, such as a city. As a consequence, many ITS technologies were developed for use in urban or suburban locations to improve transportation conditions. Ten major components comprise ITS programs in metropolitan areas.

Arterial management--Systems help control traffic along arterial roadways. Technologies include traffic cameras and surveillance devices, adaptive traffic signal controls, signal priority systems for emergency vehicles, pedestrian control devices, information displays and automated enforcement devices.
Freeway management--Systems can be used to monitor and control freeway operations and provide information to motorists. Technology includes traffic cameras and surveillance equipment, traffic control devices, lane control, dynamic message signs, ramp meters, variable speed limit signs that are based on traffic conditions, advisory radio and automated traffic enforcement.
Transit management--Systems help improve the on-time performance of transit vehicles and provide services for customers. Technologies include automatic vehicle location devices, audio and visual displays of transit information, computer aided dispatch for ParaTransit services, transit signal priority and electronic fare payment.
Incident management--Systems allow personnel to detect and respond to incidents more rapidly. Technology includes traffic cameras and survey devices, freeway service patrols and traffic management centers.
Emergency management--Systems improve notification of emergency personnel and of dispatch and guidance of emergency vehicles to reduce response time to emergency situations and improve safety. Technologies include automatic vehicle location devices, computer-aided dispatch and vehicle guidance systems.
Electronic toll collection--Systems can eliminate delays at toll plazas by allowing drivers to pass through at highway speeds.
Electronic fare payment--Technology allows transit customers to pay for services with smart cards.
Highway-rail intersections--Systems are intended to monitor highway-rail crossings and warn drivers about dangerous situations to reduce crashes at highway-rail intersections. Technology includes cameras and surveillance equipment, signal controls dynamic message signs, advisory radio and automated enforcement.
Regional travel information--Systems allow travelers to make more informed decisions about departure times, routes and mode of travel during poor weather conditions or high traffic time. Technologies provide up-to-date travel information through traffic management centers, Web sites and information kiosks.
Information management--Data collected by ITS applications can provide tremendous value in transportation planning. States can use data management systems to archive and process ITS-generated information to develop a comprehensive picture of transportation dynamics.

During the last decade, transportation planners have deployed ITS technologies in many large urban communities. The effects of ITS technologies on traffic congestion in metropolitan areas, however, are mixed. A 1999 study of the SCOOT adaptive signal control system in Anaheim, California, for example, found that after the city implemented the system, the average changes in travel times for five test routes through the city ranged from a 10 percent decrease to a 15 percent increase. The study indicated that the technology did not perform consistently, particularly during high traffic conditions.

A study of automated pedestrian detection devices in Los Angeles, Calif., Rochester, N.Y., and Phoenix, Ariz., found that such devices can improve pedestrian safety. In general, the addition of automated pedestrian control devices decreased by 81 percent the number of pedestrians crossing during a "Don't Walk" sign. The technology also dramatically reduced incidents between pedestrians and vehicles.

In 2001, Minnesota issued a well-publicized study of ramp meters in the Twin Cities region. The study, which followed a ramp meter shutdown and was mandated by the state Legislature, found that the benefits of ramp metering outweighed the costs by a significant margin. The study found that, without the approximately 430 ramp meters in operation in the Twin Cities area, travel speed decreases on the freeways offset the elimination of delays on ramps. Experts estimated that ramp meters netted a system-wide savings of 25,121 hours in travel time and produced an annual reduction of 2.6 million hours of unexpected delay.

The Minnesota study also found that the ramp meters improved traffic safety and reduced auto emissions. When the ramp meters were turned off, crashes on previously metered ramps and freeways increased by 26 percent. The study estimated that ramp metering results in an annual savings of 1,041 crashes, or approximately four crashes per day. In addition, the metering reduced emissions by 1,160 tons each year. Overall, the study estimated that ramp meters resulted in an annual savings of $40 million for the Twin Cities, providing a net benefit of $32 million to $37 million each year.

Many urban and suburban ITS systems have been integrated, drawing together several components into a single, cohesive transportation planning network. Integration allows technologies to perform multiple functions and helps provide transportation planners with a more comprehensive vision of the transportation system.

One example of an integrated system is the CommuterLink project in Utah. CommuterLink, which stemmed from Utah Senate Bill 12 in 1995, placed technology along the I-15, I-80 and I-215 traffic corridors in Salt Lake City. The system coordinates traffic cameras, traffic and weather sensors, variable message signs, traffic signals and ramp meters through operators at the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Traffic Operations Center (TOC). The UDOT TOC will be connected to smaller traffic control centers throughout the state and will help coordinate information through a number of agencies. The goal of the program is to better monitor and manage traffic flow on surface streets.

Rural Applications

According to FHWA, almost 80 percent of America's 8 million road miles are in rural areas and account for more than 40 percent of the total miles traveled on America's roads each year. Rural communities present different challenges for transportation planners than do urban locations. Commuting distances often are much longer, traffic usually is less congested, and drivers travel through more remote locations. As a consequence, in rural communities ITS performs different functions than it does in metropolitan areas.

ITS can provide travelers with information about tourism, weather and pavement conditions. Technology also can help emergency personnel to locate and respond to crashes and incidents on remote roads. Technology in rural communities is more frequently used to locate crashes and improve emergency response times. The FHWA identified seven categories of ITS applications in rural communities.

Crash prevention and security--ITS devices can be used to provide drivers with advance warning of treacherous road conditions and improve security in remote locations such as park-and-ride lots and rest areas. Technology includes surveillance cameras, dynamic message signs, automated speed detection devices and in-pavement devices that detect road conditions.
Emergency services--ITS can be used to improve detection and response to emergencies in remote locations. Technology includes call centers, E911 technology, Mayday systems, call boxes, surveillance devices, closed circuit television, vehicle tracking, dynamic message signs and highway advisory radio.
Travel and tourism--ITS can be used to improve information about hotels and restaurants, route advisory pre-trip and enroute and travel conditions. Technology also can be used to collect revenue by electronic payment.
Traffic management - ITS can be used for surveillance about traffic conditions, road conditions and weather conditions. Technology can control traffic lane use and speed limits and includes work zone signals, dynamic message signs and highway advisory radio.
Transit and mobility - ITS can be used to manage transit operations, maintenance and planning. Technology can also dispense traveler information, allow electronic fare payment, coordinate ride sharing and matching, and improve dispatch services.
Operations and maintenance - Technology can improve fleet management with automated vehicle location devices and computer-aided dispatch. ITS helps with infrastructure management, weather maintenance, work zone management and information dissemination.
Road weather management - ITS can be used to survey and monitor traffic conditions, road surface conditions and weather conditions. Technology allows speed limit control, lane use control and signal control and can improve response to weather conditions such as plowing and winter maintenance.

States already are using ITS for a variety of rural applications. Many states use technology to improve safety and service during inclement weather conditions. Idaho, for example, uses a storm warning system with visibility sensors and dynamic message signs to warn drivers of poor conditions. A study of the system found that drivers reduced their speed when weather deteriorated even without information from dynamic message signs. However, during certain conditions such as high winds, speeds dropped much lower when the Department of Transportation used the storm warning system.

The Indiana Department of Transportation uses the Computer Aided System for Planning Efficient Routes (CASPER) software to design winter maintenance routes. With the software, Indiana was able to decrease by 8 percent to 10 percent the number of routes that needed service. Officials estimate the program will reduce winter maintenance costs by as much as $14 million.

Wisconsin uses the Wisconsin Winter Weather System (WWWS) to dispatch snowplows and other winter maintenance equipment. The system includes ice detection technologies and snow forecasting models to plan work schedules, determine appropriate treatment times and identify treatment locations. The program is expected to decrease costs for personnel and overtime by as much as $144,000. Officials also expect to decrease the use of deicing chemicals and reduce costs for salt by $75,000.

Other states are using ITS technology to improve response times to motor vehicle crashes and other incidents. Georgia, for example, installed cell phone call boxes along 39 miles of I-185. The system cost $120,000 to implement. However, officials estimated that the benefits associated with reduced injuries and fatalities amounted to $289,000 each year. Officials also estimated that cost savings from other incidents such as flat tires and roadside debris amount to $40,000 a year.

In May 2002, Oregon launched the Phase II implementation of its enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) system to improve the effectiveness and reliability of wireless 9-1-1 services, particularly in rural communities. Federal law requires states to upgrade wireless 9-1-1 services by providing emergency services personnel with location information that will enable them to dispatch assistance more rapidly. Regulations from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) require E9-1-1 implementation in two phases. During Phase I, wireless carriers must provide Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) with a telephone number of the originator of a wireless 9-1-1 call and the location of the cell site or base station receiving the 9-1-1 call. Phase II, which must be completed by Dec. 31, 2005, requires wireless carriers to provide more precise Automatic Location Identification (ALI). Oregon is among the first states to implement the second phase of the E9-1-1 system.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), in cooperation with the National Park Service, is conducting a field test of a real-time traveler information system in and about Acadia National Park in Maine. The project, which was started in 1999, came in response to traffic congestion problems created by the growing popularity of the park. The project, which uses technology to improve public transportation into the park, includes transit management, traffic management and emergency management components.

As with urban ITS programs, technologies can be integrated to improve the effectiveness of rural ITS programs. For example, the Northeast Florida Rural ITS project has been used to coordinate the use of technologies among five rural transportation agencies in Florida. The project involves a variety of technologies, including geographical information systems (GIS), the global positioning satellite (GPS), automatic vehicle location (AVL), mobility management software applications, mobile data terminals, and electronic applications such as e-mail and Web-based information.

Commercial Motor Vehicle Operations

Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) are an important cog in the nation's transportation system. Each year, more than 7 million large trucks and other commercial motor vehicles travel more than 300 billion miles on America's highways, moving more than $5.8 trillion worth of freight. This commercial vehicle traffic has significant economic consequences. Many businesses depend on timely deliveries by truck, and delays in truck shipments can adversely affect their businesses.

Commercial vehicles also are an important safety consideration on the road. CMVs often weigh 20 to 30 times more than a passenger vehicle. In some states, they can weigh as much as 120,000 pounds. Large vehicles do not maneuver easily and it may take a tractor-trailer 20 percent to 40 percent longer to stop than it does a passenger car. In 2000, large trucks were involved in more than 437,000 crashes on the road that killed 5,211 people and injured approximately 140,000. The FHWA identified four categories of ITS technologies that can be used to improve commercial vehicle operations and safety.

Safety assurance - ITS programs can automate inspections, improve safety information exchanges and facilitate more efficient commercial vehicle travel.
Credentialing - ITS services that support administrative functions can improve efficiency for the approval of oversize and overweight permits. They also can support databases for transferring funds electronically and support base state programs such as the International Registration Plan (IRP) and the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA).
Electronic screening - ITS services allow safe and legal commercial motor vehicles to bypass weigh stations and safety inspection stations at highway speeds. Technology can automatically check safety credentials and weigh vehicles. Such programs can reduce congestion at ports of entry, improve travel time for commercial vehicles and improve the effectiveness of safety inspections.
Carrier operations - ITS can be used to improve fleet management, scheduling, dispatching, routing and vehicle tracking by motor carriers. Commercial vehicles also can contain automatic vehicle location devices, on- board technology to monitor drivers, trip monitoring technology, cargo monitoring technology, and electronic credentialing devices.

States already are using ITS to support commercial vehicle operations. Much of the focus on commercial motor vehicle applications has been on the deployment of pre-clearance programs under the Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN). Thirty states now use one of the three forms of preclearance technology-PrePass, Norpass or Green Light-to allow safe and legal trucks to bypass weigh stations or ports of entry at highway speeds. With a typical preclearance system, a truck is identified by its transponder as it approaches a station and is automatically weighed. A computer in the scale house shows the carrier's credentials, safety status and vehicle weight. Depending on the results, the vehicle can be given clearance or directed for a manual inspection. The entire process, which takes just a few seconds, helps eliminate congestion and delays that happen with only a manual inspection. Approximately 250,000 trucks nationwide are enrolled in preclearance programs. Four states use ITS technology to process credentials electronically. Another five states use technology to exchange data on truck safety.

Intelligent Vehicles

A variety of technologies now are available that promise to help people drive more effectively. Although these in-vehicle technologies are not ITS programs that legislatures can fund and implement, they may affect driver safety and performance. The FHWA identifies three categories of ITS technologies related to intelligent vehicles.

Driver assistance - Vision enhancement devices can better illuminate the road and help improve safety at night or during inclement weather.
Navigation - Technology allows drivers to replace traditional hand-held maps with dashboard-mounted navigation systems, voice directions, route guidance and technology that helps locate the vehicle.
Collision avoidance and warning systems - Technology helps drivers avoid crashes by alerting them to potential threats. Devices include intelligent cruise control, rear end warnings, road departure warnings, intersection warnings, longitudinal controls, speed controls, devices that sense low traction, automatic collision notification and Mayday systems, on-board monitoring of driver conditions and vehicle diagnostic systems.

Some experts estimate that in-vehicle technology will likely grow to a $30 billion to $50 billion industry by 2010. A wide range of emerging technologies now are available in vehicles, including warnings and alerts, routing and navigation systems, motorist services, and information and entertainment devices. The effects of technology in motor vehicles are uncertain. Much of the new technology has the potential to enhance safety, efficiency and comfort for drivers and passengers. Some experts warn, however, that many new in-vehicle devices can have unintended negative effects on driver attention and may actually create distractions that make driving more risky.

Collision warning systems, for example, can mitigate distractions and enhance safety. However, poorly designed systems can annoy drivers and create even more distractions that undermine systems. Drivers could rely on collision avoidance technology and perform riskier functions that they would not otherwise perform. Routing and navigation systems can enhance safety by keeping people from using a paper map, but the same systems can degrade driver safety by enticing people to drive in situations they otherwise might not attempt.

Transportation Security and Emergency Management

The events of September 11 have expanded the focus of ITS beyond the traditional roles of improving traffic congestion and travel conditions. Lawmakers now are examining the potential security benefits of technology in transportation systems. Although nothing can completely eliminate the threat of an attack, technologies can help track potential terrorists, safeguard transportation infrastructure, improve surveillance, and track the movement of vehicles and their operators. Technologies also are available to detect vehicle contents--including hazardous substances, nuclear devices and explosives--and can be used to remotely start and stop vehicle engines. If an attack should occur, ITS technologies and communications systems could be instrumental in assessing the damage, routing emergency personnel to the appropriate location, and evacuating civilians and casualties.

States and the federal government are cooperating to improve security at ports around the country. In June 2002, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced $92.3 million in grants to 51 ports. Some of the money will be used to explore the use of new technology such as electronic seals, vessel tracking and electronic notification of vessel arrivals, which could improve maritime security.

Other public private partnerships also are working toward improving container safety. For example, the Air Cargo Project, headed by the American Trucking Associations, is intended to improve information about the chain of custody of goods from the original manufacturer or shipper to the end destination. The system uses biometric information such as fingerprints to track containers and stores information on the Internet.

Federal, state and local officials have looked to ITS to improve response to emergencies. The events of September 11 demonstrated the need to provide better information and communications to both emergency responders and the public. Traditional ITS technologies such as 5-1-1 traveler information phone services can be used to provide emergency information. Technology also can be used to integrate voice, data and video communications between transportation agencies; fire, rescue and law enforcement personnel; 9-1-1 operators; and emergency medical providers.

Many experts believe the widespread availability of real-time information can enhance the security of the surface transportation system. Such information allows planners to better supervise emergency evacuations. It also allows for better monitoring and protection of critical transportation infrastructure. In addition, investments in real-time information can provide benefits beyond terrorist prevention and response. Such technology can assist with response to other events--such as hazardous materials spills or traffic incidents--that can paralyze the transportation network.

ITS Costs

ITS programs and technologies can be expensive. During the last decade, the federal government and state and local governments have appropriated billions of dollars for ITS programs. In 1998, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21) provided more than $1.2 billion in funding to support ITS through 2003. Of that, $603 million was targeted to research and development. Another $679 million was intended for deployment of ITS projects.

At the state level, many legislatures have generously supported ITS programs. For example, since 1992, Minnesota has earmarked more than $62 million for ITS. The money has been used to establish Minnesota's Guidestar program, which provides overall guidance on planning, project identification, project initiation, project management and evaluation in the state. Minnesota also has used funding to develop advanced traffic management systems such as ramp meters, provide better incident management, develop rural automatic vehicle location systems, and provide various other ITS services and technologies throughout the state.

Since 1999, Colorado has earmarked more than $23 million for ITS programs. Much of the funding has helped make improvements for truck safety along I-25 in the Denver metropolitan area through the expansion of traffic operations centers in Denver and Colorado Springs. The funding also has improved incident management and congestion management and been used to deploy rural traveler information systems and automate the ports of entry along the I-25 NAFTA trade corridor.

Other states also have made substantial ITS investments. California, for example, earmarked $35 million from 1992 to 2000 to support a variety of ITS endeavors. Pennsylvania spent $22 million from 1997 to 1999 and will spend and additional $17.1 million under legislation passed in 2002. North Carolina invested $13 million in ITS projects from 1994 to 2000.

The Federal Highway Administration tracks specific ITS expenses through a database on its Web site. The ITS Unit Cost Database, located online at http://www.benefitcost.its.dot.gov, provides information about hundreds of technologies, including the expected lifetime of the technology, the approximate capital costs, anticipated expenses for operation and maintenance, and notes and descriptions about the technologies.

State Legislation

Ten states-Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington-considered 18 ITS bills in 2002. Most of the legislation was intended to provide fiscal support for state ITS programs. Alaska's budget bill, for example, included provisions to appropriate $1.3 million for the implementation of ITS programs statewide. The Pennsylvania budget included provisions to appropriate $17.1 million in state funding for ITS projects.

Other measures were intended to make ITS part of spending programs. Colorado House Bill 1248 would have added ITS to the definition of necessary expenditures for a multi-modal capital transportation project and mass transportation improvement projects. However, the bill failed in committee.

Some states considered legislation to study ITS applications or promote particular ITS technologies. Georgia, for example, considered legislation to form an ITS study committee in the Senate. The Senate resolution also would have promoted the use of smart card technology in the state.

Legislatures in several states successfully passed ITS measures. In April, Michigan legislators approved Senate bills 811 and 812, which altered state law to allow the use of electronic technologies along transportation corridors. Under prior Michigan law, vending machines at specific rest areas could dispense only food and beverages. The change in the law allows MDOT officials to dispense free travel-related information and use other ITS applications.

Virginia lawmakers approved a measure that will likely increase the use of ITS technology in northern Virginia. Senate Bill 576 created the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Among other functions, the authority was given the responsibility to develop ITS projects in the region.

Federal Efforts

The federal government has provided increasing support for the development of ITS programs. In the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA), Congress envisioned a safer, more responsive, and more efficient national transportation system within 20 years through the application of ITS technology. The 1998 federal transportation funding bill-the Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (TEA-21)-provided goals, funding and support to improve the integration of ITS programs throughout the country and to specifically develop ITS programs for commercial vehicles. The measure provided more than $1.2 billion to support research efforts and ITS deployment.

The most recent transportation appropriations, signed in 2002, obligated $225 million to ITS projects. Current competing proposals from the Senate Appropriations Committee and the president are seeking to appropriate between $173 million and $232 million for ITS in fiscal year 2003. The money would be used for ITS standards, research, operational tests and development of ITS programs.

ITS deployment continues to be a priority in Washington, D.C. In March 2002, several representatives formed an ITS Caucus to educate members about ITS and ensure continued support for ITS programs in the TEA-21 reauthorization (HR 369). U.S. Department of Transportation officials also have indicated that the administration supports the deployment of ITS technology to enhance highway operations and to increase the efficiency and security of intermodal movement of freight.

Conclusion

Technology continues to play an important role in the transportation network. ITS applications offer opportunities to improve the safety and reliability of the U.S. surface transportation system. A variety of technologies can be used in urban and rural areas and to improve operations and safety for both commercial and non-commercial vehicles. Growing concerns about terrorism in the wake of September 11 have thrust the spotlight on the potential applications of traditional ITS technologies for securing the transportation network.

Appendix. 2002 State ITS Legislation

Alaska	SB 247 - Budget bill appropriates $1.3 million for implementation of statewide ITS programs.	Active. Read third time in House May 16, 2002.
Colorado	HB 1248 - Adds ITS in definition of necessary expenditures for a multi-modal capital transportation project and mass transportation improvement projects.	Inactive. Died in committee February 12, 2002.
Georgia	SR 840 - Creates the Senate Intelligent Transportation Systems and Technology Study Committee. Promotes the use of "smart card" technology to safeguard students.	Active. To Senate Rules Committee March 18, 2002.
Michigan	SB 811 - Creates exceptions in Michigan law to permit electronic technologies that dispense free travel-related electronic information. Also allows MDOT to enter into agreements to acquire property to be used for installation of electronic devices to assist in travel-related information services.	Enacted. Signed by governor April 2, 2002.
Michigan	SB 812 - Allows the use of electronic technologies along transportation corridors.	Enacted. Signed by governor April 2, 2002.
New Jersey	AB 305 - Requires the state Department of Transportation to provide information acquired by ITS on the world wide web. ITS technology includes video cameras, vehicle detector sensors, computers and other technologies that monitor traffic flow and detect roadway incidents. Also requires the Department of Transportation to generate real-time information of traffic conditions on major roadways, including maps and photographs.	Active. To Assembly Transportation Committee Jan. 8, 2002.
New Jersey	AJR 40 - Creates a "Smart Highway Study Commission" to study the use of intelligent highway systems. Particular focus of the commission will be to study the use of intelligent highway systems in Maryland, Virginia, Minnesota and Florida.	Active. Introduced and referred to Assembly Transportation Committee June 27, 2002.
New Jersey	SB 389 - Companion bill to AB 305.	Active. To Senate Transportation Committee.
New Jersey	SB 657 - Requires the state Department of Transportation to make recommendations regarding mitigation measures for development that the DOT believes will result in significant added traffic growth on a state highway. Such mitigation measures may include intelligent transportation systems.	Active. Referred to Senate Transportation Committee Jan. 8, 2002.
New York	AB 9761 - Budget bill. Allows the state to reimburse local governments for ITS programs.	Enacted May 29, 2002.
New York	SB 5028 - Authorizes the New York state throughway authority to participate in the development of ITS projects.	Active. To Senate Transportation Committee Jan. 9, 2002.
Pennsylvania	SB 5 - Budget bill appropriates $17.1 million in state money for highway maintenance technology and ITS projects, and $27 million in federal funding for ITS projects.	Enacted June 29, 2002.
South Carolina	HB 4754 - A concurrent resolution that urges the public and state agencies involved in traffic incident management to enhance the flow of traffic and reduce the danger of accidents along state roadways.	Active. Adopted by House. To Senate Transportation Committee April 16, 2002.
South Carolina	HB 5129 - A concurrent resolution with SB 1196. Endorses the use of Prepass Electronic Clearance System.	Active. Approved by House. To Senate Transportation Committee April 30, 2002.
South Carolina	SB 1996 - A concurrent resolution with HB 5129. Endorses the deployment of the Prepass Electronic Clearance System.	Active. Senate approved May 22, 2002.
Virginia	SB 576 - Created Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. Among other functions, the authority may develop ITS projects.	Enacted April 18, 2002.
Washington	HB 1672 - Directs the use of intelligent transportation systems and traffic system management. Companion to SB 5760.	Active. Reintroduced and retained in its present status January 14, 2002.
Washington	SB 5760 - Directs the use of intelligent transportation systems and traffic system management. Companion to HB 1672.	Active. To House Rules Committee January 16, 2002.

Source: NCSL 2002

References

Federal Highway Administration. Intelligent Transportation Systems Benefits: 2001 Update. Prepared by Mitretek Systems. Washington, D.C.: Federal Highway Transportation Administration, 2001.

Intelligent Transportation Society of America. National Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Plan: A Ten Year Vision. Washington, D.C: Intelligent Transportation Society of America, 2002.

U.S. House of Representatives. Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. Hearing on Relieving Highway Congestion through Capacity Enhancements and Increased Efficiency, 107^th Cong., May 21, 2002.