DOTs
Intelligent Transportation Systems Program
Surges Forward with FCC Approval of Radio Band
Radio Band Will Enhance Surface Transportation
Safety
U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary Mortimer L.
Downey today hailed a Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) decision
to make radio spectrum available for intelligent transportation systems
(ITS) operations.
"This decision will enable broader, innovative
uses of telecommunications technology and result in enhanced safety and
efficiency of our nations surface transportation system," Downey
said. "I commend the FCC for allocating the spectrum and those at
the U.S. Department of Transportation whose vision helped set this stage
for improving safety, which is President Clintons and Secretary Slaters
highest transportation priority."
The FCC allocated a range of 5850-5925 megahertz
(MHZ) for Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) between vehicles
and electronic systems on the roadside, such as at toll booths or intersections.
Transportation safety operations are a primary reason
for this allocation of spectrum, which will support intelligent transportation
systems activities such as intersection collision avoidance; transit or
emergency vehicle signal priority, which allows an ambulance to command
a green light approaching an intersection; electronic parking payments;
and commercial vehicle clearance and safety inspections that can be done
at highway speeds instead of requiring trucks to pull off the road.
"Todays decision is one more building
block as we work toward our goal of integrated ITS deployment this decade
in 75 cities and 25 states," said Federal Highway Administrator Kenneth
R. Wykle. "Already deployment of different ITS solutions across the
nation have demonstrated between 15 and 50 percent reductions in crashes."
The FCC allocation culminates many years of work
initiated by the departments Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),
which partnered with ITS America in this initiative. ITS America petitioned
the FCC for radio spectrum for this purpose.
The Intelligent Transportation Systems program was
established by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of
1991 and was reauthorized in the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century (TEA-21), which was signed into law by President Clinton in 1998.
ITS uses communications, computer and sensor technology to improve surface
transportation safety, mobility and efficiency.
A 20-year life-cycle cost analysis for 50 major urban
areas has indicated that buying smarter by deploying ITS not only enhances
safety but reduces the need for new roads, while saving taxpayers 35 percent
of the required investment in urban highways.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 21, 1999
Contact: Karen Whitney
Tel.: 202-366-0660
FHWA 67-99
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