Intelligent Transportation Systems in a Real-Time, Customer-Oriented Society

This article explores how intelligent transportation systems (ITS) will change how surface transportation works in a real-time, customer-oriented environment. The author defines ITS as systems in which advanced technology operates the surface transportation system by electronically linking vehicles to one another and to infrastructure. The author then describes the potential benefits of ITS for the surface transportation system and how it can serve as an agent of change for that complex system. Organizational and institutional changes that are necessary for the full benefits of ITS to be realized are also identified. Specific topics include congestion and insufficient capacity, advanced traveler information systems (ATIS), privacy issues, advanced transportation management systems (ATMS), economic concerns, the dynamic pricing of highways, high-occupancy toll lanes, traditional gasoline taxes, the safety of surface transportation, vehicle-infrastructure integration (VII), and the environmental impacts (notably air quality) of surface transportation. The author concludes that the emphasis in modern surface transportation systems must be balanced between infrastructure (which will continue to be built) and operations, using pricing to manage the network. ITS technologies can help manage congestion and improve safety and, perhaps, the environment as well.