DOT News from the TRB Annual Meeting

WASHINGTON, D.C. Jan. 15, 2002 – The U.S. DOT plans to propose a list of homeland security-focused ITS projects as alternatives to congressional earmarks in the next fiscal year.

The security projects would be funded by redirecting the approximately $120 million in integration and CVISN funds that TEA 21 provides the ITS program in fiscal year 2003, the last year of the act.

If projections for declining gas tax revenues are correct, however, the actual amount available for these, or other projects, will be significantly less. According to U.S. DOT, the spending authorizations for ITS in FY 2003 could be just 75 percent of what was anticipated in TEA 21.

The industry will have an opportunity to suggest the appropriate projects. Christine Johnson, the manager of the Federal Highway Administration's Operations Business Unit, said U.S. DOT would issue a request for proposals in January that would remain open for only 60 days. Johnson spoke at the Transportation Research Board's annual meeting, under way in Washington, D.C.

Also, later this year, U.S. DOT will solicit participants for operational tests focused on hazardous materials transportation and container security. But she said that given the current environment, national deployments in these areas could outpace the tests.

Turning to the interplay of ITS, capacity and reliability, Johnson said, "As stewards of a very overtaxed system, we need to preserve the system's capacity from the effects of weather, incidents, work zones, surge loads from special events and many other capacity-robbers. We must do that preservation, not as an option to building because frankly we do need to add capacity to the system, but as responsible stewards of what we already have built."

The coming year also may see a federally funded statewide operational test of the concept of an integrated network of transportation information, said Jeff Paniati, who manages U.S. DOT's ITS Joint Program Office.

Paniati said there was a need for a national investment in a "technology neutral" network that has both a local and national focus and that could gather, consolidate and deliver security-related travel information, help manage congestion, monitor critical infrastructure and provide weather information to, for instance, support hurricane evacuation plans.

While the content underpinning such a network and the technology for delivering the information are being debated, the concept has taken hold and forms a key component of The National Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Plan: A Ten Year Vision. ITS America recently the delivered the document as formal advice to the secretary of transportation and unveiled it at the TRB meeting.

Dave Ekern, representing the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, said the program plan was "well crafted….executed with skill...inclusive...and responsive to the participants."

Lou Sanders representing the American Public Transportation Association, said it "provides a place for everyone...and keeps the customer in focus."

The plan in its entirety and as an executive summary or popular brochure is available in pdf. files at www.itsa.org.