TEA-21 - Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century Moving Americans into the 21st Century
	Fact Sheet
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INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS PROGRAM
Year	1997 *	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
ITS R & D		$95M	$95M	$98.2M	$100M	$105M	$110M
ITS Deployment		$101M	$105M	$113M	$118M	$120M	$122M
Total	$232.4M	$196M	$200M	$211.2M	$218M	$225M	$232M

* Funded from multiple sources (ISTEA, GOE)

Program Purpose

The ITS program provides for the research, development, and operational testing of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) aimed at solving congestion and safety problems, improving operating efficiencies in transit and commercial vehicles, and reducing the environmental impact of growing travel demand. Proven technologies that are technically feasible and highly cost effective will be deployed nationwide as a component of the surface transportation systems of the United States.

Funding

Contract authority is specifically provided for ITS research & development and deployment incentives as shown in the above table.

• ITS funds continue to be subject to the overall Federal-aid obligation limitation, but will no longer receive limitation equal to 100 percent of available funding. They will now be included in the formula distribution of the limitation and will receive a prorated share on the same basis as other Federal-aid programs. [1102]

• Within the overall limitation, ITS funds will now also be subject to a limitation imposed on R&D obligations. [5002]

• Limitation set aside for research programs may be carried over for 3 years. [TRA 9002(b)(2)]

In addition, TEA-21 clarifies that other Federal-aid highway funds may be used for ITS activities as follows:

• National Highway System (NHS) and Surface Transportation Program (STP) eligibilities are clarified to specifically allow funds to be spent for infrastructure-based ITS capital improvements. [1106(b), 1108(a)]

• Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funding eligibilities are clarified to include programs or projects that implement ITS strategies. [1110(b)]

ITS Program Elements

The ITS program is divided into two key areas—

Research and Development [5207]

A comprehensive program of research, development and operational tests of intelligent vehicles and intelligent infrastructure systems is authorized; priority areas are outlined.

Operational tests are to be designed to permit objective evaluations, obtain cost-benefit information and develop and implement standards.

The Urban Consortium’s ITS outreach and technology transfer activities shall be allocated $500,000/year. [5212(b)]

Deployment Incentives

ITS Integration - to accelerate ITS integration and interoperability in metropolitan and rural areas. [5208]

• Projects must be selected through competitive solicitation and meet certain detailed criteria.

• Fiscal year limitations:

  (1) not more than $15 million for a single metropolitan area

  (2) not more than $2 million for projects in a single rural area

  (3) not more than $35 million for projects in any one State

• In metropolitan areas, funding shall be used primarily for integration.

• For projects outside of metropolitan areas, funding may also be used for installation.

• At least 10 percent of ITS integration program funds must be used in rural areas.

Commercial Vehicle ITS Infrastructure Deployment - to advance the technological capability and promote deployment of ITS applications to Commercial Vehicle Operations; priorities are established. [5209]

The following projects are mandated from deployment funds:

• Corridor development and coordination

  (1) $2 million/year to Wisconsin [5208(f)]

  (2) $5 million/year for the I-95 Corridor. [5208(f)]

• Hazardous Materials Monitoring Systems - $1.5 million/year. [5212(a)]

• Translink research - $1.3 million/year to the Texas Transportation Institute. [5212(c)]

National ITS Program Plan [5205]

US DOT, working with ITS America, is to maintain and update as necessary a National ITS Program Plan.

The scope of this plan shall include the following:

• goals, objectives and milestones for ITS R&D

• standards development activities to promote and ensure interoperability

• a cooperative process with State and local governments to develop plans for incorporating ITS into surface transportation plans

National Architecture and Standards [5206]

US DOT is to develop, implement and maintain a National Architecture and supporting standards and protocols to promote the widespread use of ITS technology, ensuring interoperability and efficiency to the maximum extent practicable.

A report identifying critical standards is due on June 1, 1999; provisional standards shall be established by the Secretary if critical standards are not developed by January 1, 2001. Options for waivers to this provision are detailed.

USDOT shall ensure that ITS projects funded from the Highway Trust Fund conform to the national architecture, applicable standards or provisional standards and protocols.

Spectrum [5205(f)]

US DOT and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are to work together to define needs, including spectrum for the dedicated short-range vehicle-to-wayside wireless standard.

The FCC has until January 1, 2000 to complete a rulemaking considering the allocation of spectrum for ITS.

Program Administration

Procurement methods [5204(I)]

• Provide technical assistance on ITS procurement, including innovative and nontraditional methods, to State and local agencies.

• For software acquisition, use the Software Engineering Institute’s Capability MaturityModel or another similar recognized standard risk assessment methodology.

Project evaluation - Issue guidelines for the evaluation of operational tests and deployment projects, stressing objectivity and independence. [5204(j)]

Limitations on use of funds [5210]

• Outreach activities are limited to $5 million per year.

• Operational test and deployment funds shall be used primarily for ITS infrastructure, not for the construction of physical highway and transit infrastructure.

• For projects over $3 million, an analysis of life-cycle costs of the operations and maintenance of ITS elements must be submitted; a multi-year financing and operations plan must be submitted.

September 14, 1998