SACOG has undertaken the development of a Strategic Deployment Plan (SDP), which will identify Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) projects that can help the region achieve its transportation and land use goals. ITS uses advanced computer, communication, and roadway technologies to improve traffic flow, transit operations, incident management, emergency response, and the dissemination of information to travelers. The SDP will contain both specific and generic projects, for current and future ITS needs and set priorities for the construction of projects. These projects will be incorporated into SACOG's Metropolitan Transportation Plan in 2006.

An example of a specific project is a regional communications network, called STARNET, which will link traffic and transit operations centers in order to facilitate operations coordination, data sharing, system control, and information dissemination via the 511 traveler information system. Heavily traveled corridors have also been identified by cities and counties for future ITS investments.

Generic projects will be defined in a menu of ITS technologies that can be used in conjunction with future land use and transportation planning. The menu will be applicable in any location where land use changes and associated transportation improvements could derive a benefit from ITS. For example, a corridor targeted for redevelopment to higher densities could benefit from ITS projects that improve signal operations and traffic flow. If that corridor were also slated for Bus Rapid Transit, ITS features for those operations could also be added. This generic project menu will give local land use and transportation planners a list of ITS improvements to help achieve their land use and transportation objectives.

More information regarding ITS can be obtained at www.sacog.org or by contacting David Shabazian at (916) 340-6231 or via e-mail at dshabazian@sacog.org.