Rural Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Toolkit
Background
Technology is rapidly advancing, changing how people recreate, communicate, and travel. Automobile crashes are the fourth leading cause of death for people between the ages of 35 and 44(1). In rural areas, the number of annual fatalities is disproportionately higher than in urban areas. Rural road safety is critical for both rural and urban residents, because even as people move to more urbanized areas, they are still drawn to rural areas for vacations and recreation. As a result, intelligent transportation systems can help to address safety and localized congestion that is experienced in a rural context, particularly in areas where traditionally expensive infrastructure modifications are not feasible due to fiscal constraints.
In 1997, the original Rural Intelligent Transportation System Toolkit was developed by Science Applications International Corporation, Western Transportation Institute, Transcore, and Castle Rock Consultants as a resource for state and local transportation agencies. As technologies have advanced, new ITS tools have been introduced and others have been revised or retired.
Overview
The 2018 Rural Intelligent Transportation System Toolkit is an update and expansion of the previous effort in order to update its relevance and usefulness for transportation practitioners. It is a series of 42 rural transportation critical need fact sheets (pdf files) that can be found below, categorized by topic. Additionally, the following resources are also provided:
- ITS Toolkit Primer – The Primer provides more information about the background of the toolkit, the intended audience, and how to utilize the toolkit to it’s fullest extent.
- ITS Toolkit Summary Table – This table provides a “snapshot” view of the available tools.
- ITS Toolkit Acronym List – This resource defines all of the acronyms, that can be found throughout the fact sheets, in one easy to find location.
- Embedded Links and References Supplement – This supplemental document provides the long form of the hyperlinks used in the individual fact sheets, as well as, the references sited in the implementation and cost sections.
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Crash Countermeasures (CC)
Tools that focus on reducing crash frequency and severity.CC2 Automated Visibility Warning Systems
CC5 Wrong Way Driver Detection & Warning System
CC6 Highway-Rail Crossing Safety Systems
CC7 Intersection Collision Warning Systems (ICWS)
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Traffic Management (TM)
Tools that facilitate the identification of congestion and the management of traffic.TM2 Variable Speed Limit (VSL)
TM3 Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
TM4 Interconnected Signal Systems
TM6 Monitoring Travel Times and Speeds
TM7 Parking Management Systems
TM8 Planned Special Event Management Systems
TM9 Rural Traffic Management Center (TMC)/Traffic Operations Center (TOC)
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Operations & Maintenance (OM)
Tools that facilitate operations, enhance maintenance, or extend the longevity of the transportation assets.OM1 Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) Systems
OM2 Site Management During Avalanches
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Emergency Services (ES)
Tools that support, facilitate and expedite emergency response efforts.ES2 Smartphone Applications for First Responders
ES4 Automatic Crash Notification Systems
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Surface Transportation & Weather (STW)
Tools that monitor weather conditions on the transportation network and mitigate weather related impacts.
STW1 Integrated Weather Monitoring/Prediction Systems
For more information see FHWA’s Road Weather Management Webpage
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Rural Transit & Mobility (RTM)
Tools that expand, enhance, and coordinate public transportation.
RTM1 Coordinated Rural Transit Service
RTM2 Automated Stop Announcement Systems
RTM3 Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) on Agency and Public Vehicles
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Tourism & Travel Information (TTI)
Tools that expand or enhance dissemination about travel conditions and tourism opportunities in the surrounding region.TTI1 Highway Advisory Radio (HAR)
TTI3 Dynamic Message Sign (DMS)
