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Monday,
July 21, 2003
Contact: Bill Outlaw, 202-366-0660
FHWA 25-03
U.S. Transportation Department Conducts ITS Tests
In Public Safety Partnerships with Washington, Utah
The
U.S. Transportation Department today announced that two Intelligent
Transportation Systems (ITS) tests are being conducted to expedite emergency
services such as ambulances and medical personnel by improving electronic
communication between public safety and transportation agencies.
The tests are underway in Washington and Utah.
"Safety
is the Bush administration's top transportation priority," Secretary Mineta
said. "By improving communication between transportation management centers
and public safety agencies, we can save lives through faster responses to
traffic crashes and other emergencies."
The
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is conducting the tests in partnership
with the states of Utah and Washington. The
two ITS projects are part of DOT's effort to enhance public safety operations by
improving information-sharing across organizational and jurisdictional
boundaries. Use of the same
information and compatible communications systems by police, fire department and
transportation agencies helps provide for faster dispatch of emergency response
vehicles, faster clearance of traffic crashes and safer accident scenes.
Utah's
Department of Transportation (UDOT) and Department of Public Safety are
integrating their advanced transportation management systems and computer-aided
dispatch systems. A key goal of the
Utah project is to demonstrate that incident data can be formatted and managed
so that each agency receives only useful and relevant information.
Also, the project uses automated vehicle location and digital mapping functions
to more quickly identify incident locations.
"UDOT
and the Utah Department of Public Safety have been working across organizational
boundaries for years and are setting a great example of partnering," said
John Njord, UDOT's executive director. "This grant will allow us to take
our past experience, build upon it, and share the results with the rest of the
country."
The
Seattle project integrates the Washington State Patrol's (WSP) new
computer-aided dispatch system (CAD) into the Washington State Department of
Transportation's (WSDOT) Condition Acquisition and Reporting System (CARS).
The CARS network is a secure Internet-based system that allows state,
local and regional agencies to collect and share information regarding road
incidents, weather conditions, traffic delays and other situations.
The project will demonstrate how open communication between Washington
State's CAD system and the CARS network can improve emergency response and
traveler information distribution without causing additional burdens on the
already busy emergency response and radio operations staff.
"This
is a great opportunity for the Department of Transportation and Washington State
Patrol to work together to improve roadway-condition reports for the traveling
public," Washington State Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald said.
"Consistent and timely information delivered through our
traveler-information systems will help save lives and make the most efficient
use of our highways."
The
tests are taking place in Salt Lake City and Seattle. The projects are
expected to be completed in late 2005. The
Utah project cost is $1.25 million with a federal share of $1 million.
The Washington project cost is $462,194 with a federal share of $294,596.
ITS
improves transportation safety and relieves congestion through the application
of traffic management, communication and information technologies.
For additional information on ITS applications, go to DOT's ITS website
at www.its.dot.gov.
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