Intelligent Cooperative Systems

US empowers communities to use ITS

A new bill, introduced in the USA, spurs communities to use ITS to meet their transportation challenges

In order to encourage and empower communities to handle their transportation challenges, a bill was recently introduced in the House of Representatives of the United States of America. Titled ‘Smart Technologies for Communities Act’, the bill was introduced by representatives Mike Rogers, R Michigan, Russ Carnahan and Scott Belcher, President & CEO, ITS America. The bill is designed “to spur innovation and accelerate the deployment of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to help communities address their transportation challenges.” Belcher, in his blog, has written about the Bill thus:

“This bill would create a competitive pilot programme in up to six communities to serve as model deployment sites for large-scale deployment of intelligent transportation systems such as: A potential mileage-based user fee that could vary by congestion level, time of day, or other factors; a comprehensive approach to performance management; and a “connected vehicle” network which the US DOT estimates could potentially prevent or reduce the impact of four out of five unimpaired vehicle crashes.” The bill has been endorsed by a broad coalition inclusive of automakers, highway and transit leaders, safety and environmental advocates, engineers and manufacturers.

The bill is expected to give a model for leveraging private sector investment and innovative financing tools to modernise the US’s transportation infrastructure. Many experts have claimed that the Smart Technologies for Communities Act will help save oil, ease congestion and save lives. The bill states, “The lack of national investment in ITS has caused the Nation to fall behind other world innovation leaders. A 2010 ITIF report found that the United States is lagging behind Japan, South Korea, Singapore,and other leading Asian and European nations in the deployment of ITS technologies with countries like China beginning to invest heavily in the deployment of transportation technology”.

Representatives Rogers and Carnahan have said in a write-up, “Many of the information and communications technologies that can be utilised in ITS systems already exist: ‘connected’ vehicles that avoid crashes; stress-sensing bridges; active traffic management to reduce congestion; electronic tolling systems to avoid waiting at toll booths; and real-time traffic, transit and parking information for commuters. By integrating these technologies into demonstration programmes in up to six communities across the country, we can create model deployment sites for large-scale installation and operation projects.”

These ‘Smart Communities’ would serve as real-world test models for comprehensive ITS solutions to traffic management. Each community will be required to establish clear performance objectives based upon advanced transportation management systems for reducing traffic-related crashes and congestion; and also work to optimise system performance and connectivity across all modes of transportation. This is expected to help in fewer collisions and increased driver and pedestrian safety; better operational performance of transportation networks; cleaner air and water; streamlined traffic flow and improved access to multimodal transportation alternatives; faster incident and emergency response times; and enhanced personal mobility and convenience. Belcher is of the view that the bill would provide a model for leveraging the private sector investment and innovative financing tools to modernise America’s transportation infrastructure. He is of the view that it is now time to move ahead from research to depolyment.