Rural ITS
Publication No. FHWA–RD–99–102 (pdf-31kb)
The national Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) program includes the development and application of advanced systems upon all parts of the transportation network, including rural areas. The U.S. DOT has developed the Advanced Rural Transportation Systems (ARTS) program to meet the needs of travelers in and through rural areas, as well as the agencies responsible for the operation
and maintenance of the rural transportation system. The ARTS program complements the ITS efforts in metropolitan areas and commercial vehicle operations (CVO) by studying ways to best implement technologies that address transportation problems in rural areas. |
Rural ITS Needs and Challenges
Rural America accounts for a small and dispersed portion of our Nation's population, yet it encompasses a significant portion of the transportation system. Rural areas account for 80 percent of the total U.S. road mileage and 40 percent of the vehicle-miles traveled. Rural travel reflects the rural environment of long distances, relatively low traffic volumes, relatively rare traffic congestion, travelers unfamiliar with the surroundings, and rugged terrain in remote areas.
Rural ITS refers to that portion of the ITS program that focuses on travelers' and operators' needs in non-urbanized areas of the United States. As such, it involves interurban/interstate travel, small communities, rural counties, two-lane rural roads, and statewide and regional systems. Rural ITS infrastructure aims to improve the quality of life for rural residents and travelers by facilitating safer, more secure, available, and more efficient movement of people and goods in rural America.
The challenges to developing these services include the wide variety of conditions found in rural travel, the many types of travelers in a rural or statewide setting, and the costs of maintaining the rural transportation system. The rural ITS program is focused on developing rural ITS options and managing emerging ITS technology within rural settings from conception to viable options for implementation.
Solutions Through Identification of Critical Program Areas
Early activities under the Rural ITS program have resulted in a comprehensive
definition and identification of rural transportation needs. Given
the diversity of these needs, they have been categorized into seven Critical
Program Areas:
(1) Traveler Safety and Security Technologies use in-vehicle sensors
and information systems to alert drivers to hazardous conditions and
dangers. This also includes wide-area information dissemination of site specific
safety advisories and warnings.
(2) Emergency Services Technologies use satellites and advanced communications
systems to automatically notify the nearest police, rescue
squad, or firefighters in case of collision or other emergency.
(3) Tourism and Traveler Information Services use in-vehicle navigation
and roadside communications systems to provide information to travelers who are unfamiliar with
the local area. These services can
be provided at specific locations en
route or before travelers even begin
their trip.
(4) Public Transit and Mobility Services improve the efficiency of transit services and their accessibility to rural residents. Better scheduling, improved dispatching, Smartcard payment transactions, and computerized ride-sharing and ride-matching systems can be achieved through
advanced vehicle-locating devices and communications systems.
(5) Infrastructure Operations and Maintenance Technologies improve the ability of highway workers to maintain and operate rural roads. These include severe weather information systems and immediate detection and alerting of dangers to work-zone crews.
(6) Fleet Operations and Maintenance Systems improve the efficiency of rural transit and other fleets, such as snowplows and law enforcement vehicles, through advanced vehicle tracking and on-board
(7) Commercial Vehicle Operations
use satellites, computers, and communications
systems to manage
the movement and logistics of commercial
vehicles and to locate vehicles
during emergencies and
breakdowns.
Implementation Strategy
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is working with a wide range of stakeholders to define and
develop these cost-effective, fully
integrated Rural ITS. Cost-effective,
systems-based ITS solutions are
goals that could be reached
through the application of new
technology.
Solutions will be realized by the development of a Rural ITS infrastructure, delivery of training and technical assistance related to Rural ITS, and the deployment of systems that meet the needs and requirements of users and stakeholders.
Development
The focus of the Rural ITS program
during the next 5 years will be on
developing and defining an integrated
infrastructure for Rural ITS.
This includes developing a better
understanding of Rural ITS infrastructure
and refining the National
ITS Architecture to include applications
that address the unique Rural
ITS needs and user services.
DOT will continue to examine and
further refine the architecture and
standards efforts currently underway,
and to learn from rural stakeholders
who are developing and
deploying systems in the field.
Delivery
DOT will develop training courses
and provide technical assistance to
rural stakeholders. Lessons learned
from the development projects will
form the training and guidance
materials, and the materials will be
tailored to meet the various needs
of the broad group of rural stakeholders.
Information will include
benefits; guidance for planning integrated
projects; and technical
implementation guidance, including
project specifications, standards,
and design.
In addition to the multiple jurisdictions
within the State (county law
enforcement, State highway departments,
Indian tribal leadership,
regional hospitals/trauma centers,
etc.), the various Federal departments
and agencies will need to
work together to combine their expertise
to resolve rural issues.
Deployment
As the results from operational
tests and deployments accumulate
over the next 5 years, DOT will issue
deployment-planning guidance,
continually refining it as new
deployment projects are completed
and evaluated. This guidance will
be sent to rural transportation decision-
makers, State and local officials,
and representatives from
other Federal agencies with transportation-
related missions in rural
areas. Ultimately, these real-world
projects will set the stage for successful
integrated
For more information
Contact Tim Penney, Office of Safety Research and Development, HRDS, (703) 285-2174.