Automotive Industry Trends
New Measure to Speed ITS Deployment
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The Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) rule and the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) policy on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture and Standards were published January 8, 2001 in the Federal Register. These two important and related documents contain provisions that will lead to accelerated deployment of ITS locally, by requiring the development of regional ITS architecture.
Regional ITS architecture will help guide the integration of components, ensuring that current and future needs are considered so today's projects are compatible with one another and future ITS projects. "The new ITS rule and the policy will help save lives, time and money," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater. "ITS components that operate together and as part of a system will enhance safety and mobility and reduce the possibility of costly incompatible systems in the future."
The final rule means that regions have four years from now, or the date of the first ITS project, to put in place a regional ITS architecture. Projects funded by the Highway Trust Fund and the Mass Transit Account will have to conform to a regional ITS architecture. In the meantime, major ITS projects should move forward based on a project level architecture consistent with the national ITS architecture as a framework.
Eventually, projects must use U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) adopted ITS standards as appropriate. However, to date, DOT has not adopted any ITS standards, and a formal rulemaking process will precede any DOT ITS standard adoption. Until then, compliance with the regional ITS architecture will be in accordance with DOT oversight and Federal-aid procedures, similar to non-ITS projects.
To assist in implementing the new FHWA rule and the FTA policy, DOT intends to provide a wide range of technical assistance, guidance and training programs to states, transit agencies, and other agencies with responsibility for implementing these requirements. The ITS program is the DOT's most innovative surface transportation initiative to date.