Recognize that rapid technological advances are taking place in the ITS industry when selecting specific ITS technologies.

National experience selecting specific ITS technologies for regional and rural application.

Date Posted
09/16/2005
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Identifier
2005-L00094

Best Practices of Rural and Statewide ITS Strategic Planning

Summary Information

This document distills best practices in preparation of rural and statewide ITS deployment plans from 12 in-depth case studies and 18 sites surveyed by written questionnaire. The ultimate goal is to identify factors that should be considered by agencies undertaking such planning projects. The report also documents the benefits of this planning so that these benefits can encourage future ITS strategic planning efforts nationwide.

This document addresses institutional rather than technical issues with emphasis on the complex decision-making process required for ITS strategic planning. This process includes agency interactions, processes and procedures, organizational structures, and the level of institutional involvement.

  • The document uses the case studies/surveys to summarize the following aspects of deployment, and lays out guidance highlights (lessons learned) addressing many of these items:
  • The ITS strategic planning process, including regional ITS architectures
  • Goals and objectives of creating an ITS strategic plan
  • Effective stakeholder participation
  • Best practices for outreach, education, and marketing
  • Funding opportunities and sources, including public/private partnerships
  • Operations, maintenance, and management considerations
  • Costs of planning
  • Potential benefits


The case studies themselves appear in appendices.

This document, along with the Rural Toolbox (FHWA-OP-01-030), forms the rural ITS best practices series.

Lessons Learned

Recognize that rapid technological advances are taking place in the ITS industry when selecting specific ITS technologies.



Defining operational and implementation strategies requires reviewing, documenting, and evaluating the state-of-the-art of the available system components and technologies. This includes their system interaction, interconnection, and integration capabilities, life-cycle costs, and O&M considerations. Then, specific technologies should be applied to short-term or Early Winner projects only.



It is important that the planners recognize that rapid technological advances are taking place in the ITS industry, temper recommendations accordingly, and ensure that selected technologies are consistent with the Regional ITS Architecture.

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