Mobility Technologies Heads Consortium Selected to Deploy Advanced Traffic System in Two Markets; USDOT Seeks Public Agency Partners for Project
WAYNE, Pa.--June 1, 2001--Mobility Technologies announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to lead a private consortium to measure the operating performance of roadway systems at a regional and national level by deploying an Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure in two additional markets.USDOT is seeking public partners to participate in the project, which will provide the agencies with access to real-time and archived performance data to assist in their planning, evaluation, and management activities.
In a notice released today in the Federal Register, USDOT announced that it is inviting State and local transportation agencies to participate in the next phase of the Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure Program that was created by section 5117 of TEA-21. This program requires the provision of private technology commercialization initiatives as part of a program to "advance the deployment of an operational intelligent transportation infrastructure system for the measurement of various transportation system activities to aid in the transportation planning and analysis while making a significant contribution to the ITS program."
USDOT has retained a private sector consortium led by Mobility Technologies (formerly known as Traffic.com) to experiment with the collection and archiving of performance monitoring data that will ultimately be used to measure national system performance while also using this data for commercial traveler information purposes.
As described by USDOT: "...The path to achieving these objectives presents an opportunity to serve public agency needs in true public/private partnerships. It is recognized that the same data that is useful to the public transportation agencies also has value for commercial traveler information applications. Thus, the potential exists for a public/private partnership that would collect system performance data to serve national and local needs and, at the same time, use the same data for commercial traveler information purposes."
To date, USDOT and the consortium have tested this public/private partnership in two cities: Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Briefly, the deployments in the two initial cities feature the following:
| -- | Over 100 sensors deployed in each city along freeways and other major arterials capable of providing data on volume, speed, lane occupation, and limited vehicle classification; |
| -- | Archived database function; |
| -- | Free Web-based access to basic real-time as well as archived data for public agency stakeholders; |
| -- | Free Web-based traffic condition information to the general public; |
| -- | Additional value-added commercial services on a fee basis; |
| -- | Firm, fixed price contract where the private partner owns, operates, and maintains the system; |
| -- | Integration of at least one legacy system (e.g. the PennDOT's Traffic Operations Center in Pittsburgh); |
| -- | Private funding contribution toward infrastructure; and |
| -- | Sharing of gross revenues to support system enhancements. |
This notice and request for participation extends the existing relationship with the Consortium, along with any necessary changes in support role members, to two additional metropolitan areas, at up to $2 million each.
About Mobility Technologies:
Mobility Technologies (formerly known as Traffic.com) is creating America's premier traffic information franchise with its Digital Traffic Pulse sensor network, an Advanced Traffic Information Service (ATIS). The network continually measures traffic flow on major highways to provide motorists with real-time information such as actual speeds and point-to-point travel times.
Information is distributed on Mobility Technologies' interactive Web site (www.traffic.com) and featured on select radio and television broadcasts. Soon, motorists will also have access to Mobility Technologies' wireless services, to include personalized traffic updates and alert messages.
Ultimately, Mobility Technologies' traffic reports will be transmitted directly to drivers in their vehicles through on-board telematics devices. In addition to the company's two digitally networked cities (Pittsburgh and Philadelphia), its web-based traffic information service is also currently available in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Detroit, Baltimore, Tampa and St. Louis.