The final Illinois Statewide ITS Strategic Plan has been completed, and can
be viewed on the
Documents page. Developed through extensive
stakeholder outreach, this Strategic Plan recommends a direction for the
planning and deployment of statewide and interregional ITS projects across
Illinois over the next ten years. The plan also provides direction for the
development of regional ITS initiatives based on identified stakeholder issues.
The FHWA is conducting a T3 Training Session on "Federal Requirements for
Regional ITS Architectures" as part of its Professional Capacity Building (PCB)
Program. This topic is of particular signficance to those regions that are
currently completing their regional ITS architectures. A previous course
archive, including PowerPoint slides and the audio recording of the session, can
be found on the
PCB archive web site.
AASHTO, ITE, and NEMA are pleased to announce that no-cost copies of the
NTCIP standards are available from the
NTCIP Web
site. The available "no-cost" standards are those that have been jointly
approved and published. This special offer is made possible by funding from the
FHWA's Joint Program Office, and will only be available for a limited, 12-month
period.
The first of two project
newsletters is now available. This newsletter gives an overview of the
project, including an overview of ITS in Illinois, and a complete project
update.
Project Overview
First and foremost, IDOT and partner agencies are seeking to improve the
movement of goods and people throughout the state through the continued
implementation of ITS strategies, technologies, and infrastructure. The
deployment of these ITS projects will make the Illinois transportation system
safer, better coordinated, and more efficient. In addition, by taking a
cooperative multi-agency approach, the Department and partner agencies will be
able to better integrate ITS efforts beyond their boundaries and pool funds to
deploy ITS projects that benefit the State of Illinois and the Midwest as a
whole.
In order to use federal funds for ITS project development and deployment,
the U.S. Department of Transportation has adopted a rule that requires all
states and metropolitan areas to develop an ITS Architecture no later than April
8, 2005. The primary goal of the Illinois Statewide ITS Strategic Plan and
Architecture project is to satisfy this federal requirement.
This initiative will prepare a Statewide ITS Strategic Plan and Architecture
for Illinois that will incorporate ITS efforts underway or completed throughout
Illinois, and identify the affected parties as stakeholders throughout the
state. By documenting and understanding the requirements of IDOT and partner
agencies, ITS services can be identified and a concept of operations developed
that will guide IDOT and its partner agencies in deploying ITS strategies and
technologies throughout the state. A key part of this project is to provide
technical assistance to metropolitan planning organizations and IDOT districts
throughout the state as they develop regional ITS architectures that are both
tailored to local conditions and needs and consistent with the Statewide ITS
Architecture.
By mid-2005, the following primary project tasks will be completed:
1. Collect and Review Relevant Existing Inventory Documentation
2. Conduct Outreach and Stakeholder Participation Activities
3. Develop a Statewide ITS Architecture and Strategic Plan
4. Prepare a Communications Infrastructure Inventory and Assessment
5. Develop a Maintenance Plan for the Statewide and Regional ITS
Architectures
6. Provide Technical Assistance in the Development of Regional ITS
Architectures
The initial project focus will be on developing the Statewide ITS
Architecture, which will then be used by each of the regions beginning in the
fall of 2004 as a starting point in developing regional ITS architectures.
Development of the Statewide ITS Strategic Plan will begin in summer of 2004 and
be completed in 2005.
IDOT has engaged a consultant team headed by Edwards and Kelcey for
assistance in conducting this project. The Team also includes Trichord, Inc.,
URS Corporation, and Wilson Consulting.
