Overview

Today, a leading-edge technology called Intelligent Transportation Systems is already being applied to enhance transportation system capacity and improve the safety, security and convenience of travel. Ongoing research and development promises even greater advances.

"Smart Transport Systems Would Ease Traffic Snarls," Bruce Agnew - Cascadia Center for Regional Development; Neil Schuster - ITS America; Puget Sound Business Journal, 6/29/07.

As population continues to grow, Puget Sound's roads will remain busy and -- at peak travel times -- congested. Smart strategies can complement and enhance our state and regional investments in road and transit infrastructure. Known collectively as "intelligent transportation systems," or ITS, these technologies are used on roads and vehicles to help prevent congestion and accidents and improve responses when they occur...It's possible to add equipment to detect behind-schedule buses and provide them with an extended green or delayed red light in crowded corridors. This transit priority signaling solution will be an important part of the "rapid" in the bus rapid transit deployed by King County Metro and Snohomish County's Community Transit.

....Active Traffic Management...includes deploying electronic signs, signals and even roadway markings such as airport taxiway lights that can alter the configuration of lanes and modify speed limits in response to changing traffic volumes.....ITS systems yield massive increases in information that system managers and travelers can use in achieving a more efficient transportation network with seamless connections between modes. Companies such as Microsoft are in the forefront of designing ways to collect, interpret and distribute this information.

Ramping up ITS technologies nationally and in Puget Sound means that the very roads and transit systems in which taxpayers invest billions of dollars can run smoother and perform better. Because time is our most valuable nonrenewable resource, that's an investment we can't afford to minimize.

ITS Applications

"Intelligent Transportation Systems Regional Architecture", Puget Sound Regional Council, IBI Group, 8/21/06.

"Future Visions," Washington Transportation Plan Update Process, WSDOT/Washington Transportation Commission, 6/17/05. (See pp. 27-34, "Intelligent Transportation Systems").

The "Automatic" Car

On-board technology known as Vehicle Infrastructure Integration - or VII -will someday enable cars to maximize both speed and safety, and be nearly "automatic" when the driver so chooses. Research and planning on VII are underway.

Primer On Vehicle-Infrastructure Integration, Intelligent Transportation Society Of America.

National VII Coalition.