Intelligent Transportation System (Its)
Intelligent Transportation System (Its)
Intelligent Transportation System (Its)
SYSTEM(ITS)
• Traffic signals on freeway ramp meters alternate between red and green
signals to control the flow of vehicles entering the freeway. Metering rates
can be altered based on freeway traffic conditions. RM technologies had
annual mobility estimates of over $287 million).
RED LIGHT CAMERA (RLC)
• According to the U.S. DOT Federal Highway Administration’s Priority, Market-Ready Technologies
and Innovations, RLCs detect a motor vehicle that passes over sensors in the pavement after a traffic
signal has turned red. The sensors connect to computers in high-speed cameras, which take two
photographs of the violation. Typically, the first photo is taken of the front of the vehicle when it
enters the intersection, and the second photo is taken of the rear of the vehicle when the vehicle is in
the intersection. Law enforcement officials review the photograph, and a citation is mailed to the
registered owner of the vehicle. RLCs’ benefits appear primarily to be in the area of safety, with high
estimates of over $1 billion. (Note: The report observed a wide range in estimates of RLC benefits.
Although the technology appears to have the potential to provide safety benefits, some benefit
estimates of RLC deployment results were negative for safety.)
TRAFFIC SIGNAL COORDINATION (TSC)
• According to the U.S. DOT’s Traffic Signal Timing Manual, TSC provides
the ability to synchronize multiple intersections to enhance the operation of
one or more directional movements in a system. Some examples include
arterial streets, downtown networks, and closely spaced intersections such as
diamond interchanges. TSC technologies had high annual mobility estimates
of over $276.5 million.
TRANSIT SIGNAL PRIORITY (TSP)
• Many benefits exist for further deployment and continued development of ITS technologies. With the ITS
Program, the U.S. DOT strives to make the most of ITS technologies that already exist and where
possible integrate these advancements into vehicles and, infrastructure. The purpose of transportation
systems technology is to process and share information that can prevent potential crashes, keep traffic
moving, and decrease the negative environmental impacts of the transportation sector on society.
• The ultimate benefits of a transformed transportation system—one that is fully connected; information-
rich; and able to address safety, mobility, and environmental impacts—are wide-ranging and powerful.
They will be felt by every one of us, delivering greater livability to our communities and to our daily
lives.