Knowledge Resources

Engage political champions to keep controversial High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane projects on track.
Experience with the variable pricing projects in Los Angeles (Interim Results)

Recognize that the Smart InfraRed Inspection System has promise for increasing productivity of inspection personnel but not yet ready for national deployment due to lack of accuracy in flagging commercial vehicles with potential defects.
Experience from a field operations test for commercial vehicle inspection enforcement.

Design a trip planning website to capture and convey real-world factors such as gas prices and congestion information.
Evaluation of a Multimodal Trip Planning System (MMTPS) in Northeastern Illinois

Establish contacts early and assure continued communications between planners and stakeholders to promote public and political acceptance of proposed pricing plans.
Experience with road pricing projects around the globe

Install message signs at strategic locations to provide commuters en route with real-time information of the parking availability status at a major transit station.
Experience of Montgomery County Department of Transportation

Enforce congestion toll collection and create integration linkages between pricing system and motor vehicle registries to process violations.
Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia

For successful implementation of a road pricing program, strive for simplicity in policy goals and strong championing of the program by the executive and legislative leaders.
Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia

Develop public outreach programs based on the cultural and political context of the project location and provide clear, salient, and timely messages about the purpose and benefits of congestion pricing.
Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia

Develop a statutory and legal framework for as a foundational step for levying road pricing fees and utilizing revenues.
Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia

Consider stakeholder outreach and education, transport modes that offer an alternative to driving, performance measurement, and area geography with high importance in the planning phase for road pricing programs.
Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia

Be prepared to face the opportunities and challenges posed by political timetables, project deadlines, as well as pricing-equity issues for road pricing procurement and implementation.
Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia

Commit to acquiring the proper level of staffing and knowledge required for the operations and maintenance of Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS) prior to deployment.
Lessons learned from a synthesis of domestic and foreign state of highway signal control practice.

Define clear goals and pay attention to key institutional and technical factors for successful implementation of road pricing programs.
Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia

Be sure to conduct a detailed evaluation prior to installing an Adaptive Traffic Control System (ATCS), and be aware that conducting a public education campaign on ATCS risks building expectations too high.
Experience acquired from multiple agencies in the United States and Canada.

Consider advantages of open-source designs and beware of legal challenges in road pricing systems procurement.
Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia

Beware that schedule and costs of road pricing projects are affected by various factors including legislative outcomes, clarity and specificity of scope, and contracting methods.
Experience from road pricing programs in Europe and Asia

Grow regional road pricing policies from individual projects and develop modeling tools that reflect a wide range of impacts.
Experience in four metropolitan areas

Identify functional boundaries and needs for cross jurisdictional control required to implement adaptive signal control and transit signal priority systems.
Smart Corridor experience in Atlanta, Georgia

Ensure proper placement of variable speed limit (VSL) signs in a work zone and operate the VSL system consistently on a long term basis.
Virginia’s experience using variable speed limit signs in a work zone

Adopt a long term perspective identifying a business reason or an operational need for ITS based solutions and embrace performance measures.
Nationwide state and local agency imperatives for ITS deployment

Assure public acceptance prior to implementation of electronic congestion pricing solutions.
International experience with congestion pricing

Resolve conflicts between traditional data sources by using archived data.
Results from the Planning for Operations Case Study from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in San Francisco California

Beware of accuracy and privacy issues in using truck transponder data for developing real-time traveler information applications.
An Oregon Department of Transportation Experience

Consider user acceptance of driver fatigue detection systems to be dependent on ease of use, ease of learning, perceived value, driver behavior, and advocacy.
Nationwide experience with driver fatigue detection measures and technologies

When implementing traveler information systems that promote voluntary changes in travel behavior, incorporate functions for feedback, advice, and action-planning.
Experience with Mobility Management in Japan.

Consider deploying ITS in a work zone to improve traffic safety and mobility during construction.
Arkansas' experience using ITS in work zones.

Use Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) to identify gaps, determine constraints, and invest in the best combination of Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) strategies.
Experience with the AMS framework on the ICM Test Corridor, San Francisco.

Package road value-pricing strategies with technology upgrades and conduct extensive outreach that involves champions, stakeholders, and the general public.
Experience nationwide with FHWA's congestion and value pricing pilot programs.

Facilitate integration of CVISN by establishing cooperative relationship among stakeholders and promoting incentives to improve mobile communications and enhance enforcement.
Nationwide experience of CVISN Managers

Identify key design issues in the deployment of advanced parking management systems (APMS).
Experience from APMS deployment sites.

Examine route-specific opportunities and constraints, and assess corridor market potential for transit services prior to implementing BRT running way improvements.
National experience developing BRT

Involve all appropriate stakeholders in a formal and collaborative manner during each phase of the advanced parking management systems (APMS) project.
Experience from APMS deployment sites.

Address toll enforcement issues during the initial phase of planning process; with particular attention paid to the legal structure and potential enforcement technologies.
The Washington State Department of Transportation’s experience with planning for tolling implementation.

Ensure electronic toll collection systems are interoperable with neighboring toll facilities.
The Washington State Department of Transportation’s experience with planning for tolling implementation.

Evaluate pros and cons of different methods for electronic toll collection.
The Washington State Department of Transportation’s experience with planning for tolling implementation.

Optimize back office tolling operations.
The Washington State Department of Transportation’s experience with planning for tolling implementation.

Consider various toll methods to push traffic demand away from peak hours.
The Washington State Department of Transportation’s experience with planning for tolling implementation.

Consider dynamic natural conditions and surrounding landscapes when selecting technologies for animal detection system deployments.
Montana and Pennsylvania’s experience with deploying animal detection systems.

Build a strong partnership between transportation and public safety agencies, and establish clear operational rules from the start.
An experience operating a CAD-TMC (Computer-Aided Dispatch - Traffic Management Center) in Washington State.

Understand the issues, strategies and trade-offs that motivate agencies to join in a regional partnership and provide appropriate support.
Experience of seven partner public transportation agencies in the Central Puget Sound region of Washington in setting up a regional fare card program.

Consider the value of implementing a limited fare pass system initially to serve as an interim experience base for a comprehensive region-wide electronic fare card system.
Experience of seven partner public transportation agencies in the Central Puget Sound region of Washington in setting up a regional fare card program.

Maintain, reinforce, and expand existing programs to improve traffic signal operations.
Wisconsin’s experience with operating and maintaining a statewide traffic signal system program.

Adopt best practices for integrating emergency information into Transportation Management Center (TMC) operations to improve performance and increase public mobility, safety and security.
Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.

Invest in research and development for emergency integration.
Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.

Extend the application of emergency integration best practices to further improve emergency operations.
Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.

Integrate weather information into Transportation Management Center (TMC) operations to enhance the ability of operators to manage traffic in a more responsive and effective way during weather events.
Experience from 38 TMCs across the country.

Exercise careful planning in preparation for issuing an RFP to help mitigate cost, schedule, and performance risks.
The Riverside Transit Agency experience with the methods of award and terms and conditions used to procure equipment and software for automatic vehicle location (AVL) and computer-aided dispatch (CAD).

Consider issuing separate awards for specific project components when procuring divergent technologies, equipment, or services.
The Riverside Transit Agency experience with the methods used to procure equipment and software for automatic vehicle location (AVL) and computer-aided dispatch (CAD).

Determine agency capability level when selecting the most appropriate ITS procurement package.
Experience from a review of ITS contracting methods and practices. Step 4 of the Decision Model.

Create a Transportation Management Center staffing plan that ensures appropriate staffing, staffing skills, and organization adaptability.
The United States and Canada's experience with Transportation Management Center staffing and scheduling.

Create a Transportation Management Center plan to handle potential emergencies and special events.
The United States and Canada's experience with Transportation Management Center staffing and scheduling.

Consider tolling as a tool for managing travel demand and increasing efficiency, as well as for generating revenue.
Recommendations from the Washington State Comprehensive Tolling Study

Engage in project planning and make initial decisions about the ITS procurement process.
Experience from a review of ITS contracting methods and practices. Step 1 of the Decision Model.

Select the applicable Systems Engineering Process in the procurement of ITS.
Experience from a review of ITS contracting methods and practices. Step 5 of the Decision Model.

Use a flexible approach and accepted techniques for project management.
Maryland, New York, and Connecticut's experience with electronic toll collection and electronic screening.

Consider requirements definition and system design Issues for Archived Data Management Systems.
Experience from six Archived Data Management Systems case studies.

Develop a Concept of Operations (ConOps) to help project partners stay focused on the true needs of an ITS deployment.
The City of Lincoln, Nebraska’s experience in using systems engineering practices to define needs for an Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) project.

Incorporate mechanisms for capturing user feedback for system evaluation, including the ability to intercept incoming 511 calls for survey or focus group recruitment.
An Arizona Department of Transportation experience in 511 implementation.

Install an electronic transit card system to enhance rural transit agency performance and coordinate human service transportation between agencies to achieve more efficient services.
New Mexico's experience with the implementation of Intelligent Coordinated Transit Smart Card Technology

Develop a user-oriented system for displaying travel time messages on dynamic messages signs.
Four American Cities' experiences with Travel Time Messaging on Dynamic Message Signs.

Optimize travel time messaging operations by improving the way in which data is collected, analyzed, and displayed.
Four American Cities' experiences with Travel Time Messaging on Dynamic Message Signs.

Evaluate administrative and support staffing needs to close gaps in ITS operational support.
A New Jersey Department of Transportation experience with ITS operations and maintenance in Transportation Operations Centers (TOCs).

Develop a unified approach for a statewide intelligent transportation systems (ITS) deployment policy.
A New Jersey Department of Transportation experience with ITS operations and maintenance in Transportation Operations Centers (TOCs).

Strengthen existing maintenance and repair capabilities at Transportation Operation Centers (TOCs).
A New Jersey Department of Transportation experience with ITS operations and maintenance in Transportation Operations Centers (TOCs).

Develop a detailed cardholder recruitment plan in the planning phase of the project, to provide guidance on processes to set pricing, and to ensure high user involvement and loyalty.
Orlando, Florida's experience with a Field Operational Test (FOT) on using a single smart card for transportation payments at facilities operated by multiple regional agencies.

Incorporate operational performance measures in strategic and long-range plans.
A Washington State DOT experience in linking performance measurement to strategic planning.

Engage in comprehensive planning and coordination of managed lanes projects.
The experience of managed lanes projects in California, Texas and New Jersey.

Consider using real time traffic control system to overcome mobility and safety obstacles in a work zone.
An Illinois Department of Transportation experience using ITS in work zones.

Assure success by involving all the relevant state agencies and the motor carrier industry early in the CVISN development process.
A State of Connecticut experience with CVISN deployment.

Maintain frequent and open communications with other states and the federal government when developing and deploying new, complex ITS technologies.
A State of Washington experience with CVISN deployment.

Develop a strategic maintenance and operations plan to improve efficiency and productivity.
Kentucky's experience with employing strategies to support and coordinate ITS maintenance and operations activities.

Recognize the value of other agencies' experiences when planning an ITS project.
TriMet's experience with the deployment of Transit Tracker in Portland Oregon.

Use a regional approach for traffic signal systems operations to realize cost efficiencies.
The City of Minneapolis Department of Public Works' experience.

Coordinate extensively with other stakeholder agencies.
New Mexico’s experience planning, deployment and operating a work zone traffic and incident management system.

Consider co-locating transportation and public safety professionals to improve interagency cooperation for traffic incident management.
Minnesota DOTs experience with co-location of incident management partners.

Use ITS to implement a reliable communications system in work zones.
New Mexico’s experience in planning, deploying and operating a work zone traffic and incident management system.

Investigate procurement alternatives of leasing, buying, or building equipment to minimize operations and maintenance costs.
Montana Department of Transportation's experience in procuring hardware and software for the statewide 511 traveler information system.

Anticipate and plan for potential institutional barriers, especially in multi-agency deployments.
Alaska DOT&PF’s experience integrating a common technology into its ITS and IT plans.

Identify innovative solutions for deploying Information Stations that report real-time data for weather and traffic monitoring in the event of a hurricane.
Experience from nine transportation management projects on hurricane evacuation preparedness.

Consider using incentives to encourage the participation of private sector freight operators.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's experience in developing the FIRST system and gaining participation from industry stakeholders in the system's operation.

Monitor emerging security requirements and legislation that may impact commercial vehicle business processes.
The IMTC ITS CVO – Border Crossing Deployment stakeholders experience with changes in security policies in Washington State and British Columbia.

Use an interoperable transponder to assure maximum benefits to both the private and public sector.
The Washington State and British Columbia experience in using transponders as part of the IMTC ITS CVO – Border Crossing Deployment.

Adopt adequate and thorough procurement processes which cover purchases of both standardized commodity type equipment and highly complex integrated ITS components.
Silicon Valley Smart Corridor’s experience with procuring equipment for the development of an integrated freeway, arterial and incident management system.

Understand that deployment costs of 511 systems will vary based on system capabilities and anticipate the challenges of identifying these costs early in the process.
A national experience with the development and deployment of 511 Systems.

Recognize that interoperability is becoming an important issue in achieving the vision of a nationwide 511 system.
A national experience with the development and deployment of 511 Systems.

Implement infrastructure-based collision avoidance technology to mitigate risks at crash prone intersections.
A research project based on literature reviews and working with Virginia, California, and Minnesota.

Maximize Field Operational Test (FOT) success by creating a sound experimental design and data acquisition plan.
Experience from a Field Operational Test (FOT) in Michigan to evaluate a Roll Advisor and Control (RA&C) system for commercial vehicles.

Recognize that institutional and organizational issues will require considerable attention throughout the ITS project deployment process.
Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.

Ensure effective public and stakeholder outreach in order to garner support for HOT lanes.
Texas and California's experience with deploying High Occupancy Toll lanes.

Train staff throughout the deployment of transit ITS projects to ensure successful implementation and use of ITS resources.
Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.

Utilize standard highway project management procedures and tools to successfully implement HOT lane projects.
Texas and California's experience with deploying High Occupancy Toll lanes.

Consider different operational strategies when deploying ITS.
Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.

Examine multiple funding sources and anticipate unforeseen costs associated with deploying transit ITS.
Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.

Design an ITS procurement process carefully to ensure the best outcome for vendor selection and performance.
Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.

Consider various technical applications and processes, such as using GIS, evaluating systems compatibility and the facility for upgrades, when deploying ITS.
Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.

Establish and follow a comprehensive project plan in anticipation of the deployment of ITS resources.
Five rural transit agencies' experiences in applying ITS to rural transit.

Set toll prices and vehicle occupancy requirements to maintain favorable travel conditions on HOT lanes.
Texas and California's experience with deploying High Occupancy Toll lanes.

Establish the fundamental technical nature of the ITS project, and be realistic about the participants' associated technical capabilities and limitations.
A Washington State Department of Transportation implementation of a regional ATMS.

Address critical issues early in the ITS work zone management system development and deployment processes, and allow sufficient start-up time.
The experiences of four state DOTs using ITS in work zones.

Use a systems engineering approach for technical integration of ITS.
Nationwide experience with ITS integration.

Create multi-modal ITS plans focusing on needs and update them frequently, balancing process and projects and considering communication and coordination while ensuring that adequate resources are dedicated to implementation.
National experience with ITS strategic planning at the overview level.

Use the systems goal/objectives as the initial source of desired system functionality and then use concepts in the National ITS Architecture to develop appropriate ITS projects.
National experience identifying desired ITS functionalities and developing projects to perform them.

Identify regional needs from the bottom up and ensure that specific rural needs are not neglected in state/regional ITS strategic plans.
National experience with performing regional inventories and defining needs for ITS strategic plans.

Analyze system performance beyond traditional notions of average conditions to reveal impacts of various combinations of ITS and infrastructure elements and be sure to choose appropriate performance measures to fully understand theses impacts.
Seattle's experience with evaluating ITS alternatives.

Design the system to withstand the demands of the physical environment in which it will be deployed.
Virginia's experience implementing a pilot automatic vehicle location (AVL) system in an urban winter maintenance operations setting.

Consider seven key planning requirements of an effective ITS Program.
Experience from a case study of the Virginia Department of Transportation's I-81 ITS Program.

Plan for system redundancies to ensure appropriate incident response activities and continuity of operations during emergency situations.
The National Capital Region's experiences in emergency response after September 11, 2001.

Identify financial resources and expected costs to conduct a cost/benefit analysis.
Nationwide experience with assisting transit system managers in deploying ITS.

Use a three level approach to identify the needs of the transit system: assess, analyze, and predict.
Nationwide experience with assisting transit system managers in deploying ITS.

Be aware that ITS deployment contracting is complex and may be subject to changes in technologies and market forces.
Virginia DOT's experience with delays in contracting for the Hampton Roads Advanced Traveler Information System deployment

Establish technical requirements during the planning stages of the project and monitor on-going performance of those requirements.
Ventura County’s experience with an automated transit fare collection system.

Integrate freeway and alternate route operations to achieve greater benefits.
San Antonio’s experience with integration of freeway and arterial management systems.

Consider reconfiguring and integrating existing roadway management IT systems whenever possible to save costs associated with implementing new systems.
Phoenix’s experiences with integrating roadway management IT systems.

Use an appropriate procurement mechanism to support the implementation of multiple advanced traveler information technologies.
Institutional lessons from a partnership to implement emerging ITS technologies in the Seattle metropolitan area.

Involve the private sector in the implementation of multiple advanced traveler information technologies.
Institutional lessons from a partnership to implement emerging ITS technologies in the Seattle metropolitan area.

Select Transportation Management Center (TMC) design and location based on individual TMC needs and traffic realities.
Eight states' experiences with design and location considerations for TMCs.

Anticipate challenges with the ITS technology being tested, including problems with software modification and adaptation of previously developed technology.
A Washington State Department of Transportation’s experience with testing of new variable speed limit technology to reduce winter accidents on a mountain pass.

Install Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology to greatly enhance transit agency performance.
Different transit agencies’ experience with AVL.

Define roles and responsibilities clearly in a public/private project to reduce delays.
Institutional lessons from a test of a wide-area network to communicate traffic conditions in the Seattle area.

Understand the market during the development of an Advanced Travel Information System (ATIS) to reduce project development uncertainty and produce a more functional end product.
Institutional lessons from a test of a wide-area network to communicate traffic conditions in the Seattle area.

Select appropriate technologies to enable emergency notification and response systems to complement traditional 9-1-1 service.
Colorado and Washington’s experience with emergency notification and response systems.

Do not build if you can buy existing software products.
A national experience in acquiring software for ITS projects.

Make use of different approaches and techniques to manage software acquisitions.
A national experience in acquiring software for ITS projects.

Consider cost-saving strategies and long term needs when making communications investments.
National experience with making communications investments for incident management.