# ITS Architectureand Standards Consistency Highlights
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**New!**Rule and Policy on Intelligent Transportation SystemsArchitecture and Standards Conformance
[if !supportEmptyParas]> [endif]>The 1998 Transportation Equity Actfor the 21st Century
(TEA-21), section 5206(e), requiresITS projects funded from the Highway Trust Fund to conform with the NationalITS Architecture and appropriate standards. The Federal HighwayAdministration�s (FHWA) new ITS rule and the Federal Transit Administration�s(FTA) new ITS policy implement the law by requiring development of regional ITSarchitectures.
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**The National ITS Architecture and Regional 
**ITS Architectures**  
The National ITSArchitecture provides a common framework to guide practitioners in developingregional ITS architectures. It promotes interoperability and helps in choosingthe most appropriate strategies for processing transportation information. Itdefines system components, key functions and organizations involved indeveloping an architecture as well as the type of information to be sharedbetween organizations and parts of the system.
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It�s unlikely that anysingle metro area or state would plan to implement the entire National ITSArchitecture. Therefore the Rule and Policy require that the National ITSArchitecture be used to develop a framework for how ITS may be implementedlocally. This is referred to as a regional ITS architecture. A regional ITSarchitecture is a local implementation, or subset of the National ITSArchitecture, developed with local needs in mind. Local participants define theregion based on needs for information sharing and coordination. The region canbe a metropolitan, Statewide, multi-State, corridor or service area.
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**Architecture Requirements**- If a region has or is deploying ITS projects, a     regional ITS architecture must be developed by April 8, 2005 (which is     four years from the effective date of the Rule and Policy). If a region has not yet deployed an ITS project,     a regional ITS architecture must be developed within four years after its     first ITS project deployment. Modifications to existing systems in order to     conform with the National ITS Architecture are not required by the Rule     and Policy. It�s anticipated over time, however, that regional ITS     architectures would call for changes to legacy systems in order to support     local desires for integration. 
[if !supportEmptyParas]> [endif]>Project Requirements  - Until a regional ITS architecture is in place,     all major ITS projects must have a poject level architecture to ensure     proper consideration of regional integration. All ITS projects must be developed using a     systems engineering approach. This requires project developers to consider     all phases of the system�s life cycle from system conception to     installation. The stages of planning, design, procurement, deployment,     operations, maintenance, expansion and retirement of the system or     subsystems must be considered. Once a regional ITS architecture is in place,     all subsequent ITS Projects must be designed in accordance with the     regional ITS architecture.
[if !supportEmptyParas]> [endif]>Standards Requirements  - The Rule and Policy require that, as     appropriate, federally funded ITS projects use ITS standards adopted by     the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).  No ITS standards have been adopted by the USDOT     as of June 2001 but over 80 ITS standards are in development by various     Standards Development Organizations (SDO). As an SDO-approved standard matures and its     market expands, USDOT may decide to adopt it through a formal rulemaking     process. 
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**TOOLS --OUTREACH, TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE**

[if !supportEmptyParas]>[endif]>Online Resources- Go to USDOT�s ITS website www.its.dot.gov for     information on the National ITS Architecture, consistency, and ITS     standards. You can also submit questions online from this website. Brochures, fact sheets, frequently asked     questions, and other documents can be downloaded from the site; order     current documents from [email protected].
Subscribe to USDOT�s ITS newsletter at www.nawgits.com/jpo  for the latest ITS news from USDOT and     partners in the National Associations Working Group for ITS.

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Training
A number of relevant coursesdeveloped by USDOT are available through the National Highway Institute (http://www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov),the National Transit Institute (http://www.fta.dot.gov/research/implem/nti/nti.htm)and the ITS Professional Capacity Building Program (http://www.pcb.its.dot.gov) websites.
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National ITSArchitecture Training
Instructional training onthe National ITS Architecture is available from USDOT. 
Both introductory andtechnical instruction on the use of architecture is offered. (http://www.its.dot.gov/aconform/Training.htm)
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National ITSStandards Training
Instructional training onthe National ITS Architecture is available from USDOT through the Institute ofTransportation Engineers (ITE). Information on course content and scheduling isavailable on the ITE website at www.ite.org.
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Integrated ITS maximizes thebenefits of individual ITS investments.
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Workshops andTechnical Assistance
Despite a wealth ofresources, questions still arise that go beyond general information and trainingand require specific assistance. USDOT plans to develop workshops and othertechnical assistance programs to support both regional ITS architecture and ITSstandards implementation. Additional information on content and delivery plansfor these workshops will be available later this year on USDOT�s Office ofTravel Management web site at (www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/Travel).
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USDOT stands ready to helpITS practitioners understand and implement the new Rule and Policy. The firstplace for technical assistance is the FHWA Division Office or FTA RegionalOffice. 
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**FHWA Division Offices andResource Centers: 
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/field.html#fieldsites
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/fieldoff.htm
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**FTA Regional Offices:**
http://www.fta.dot.gov/office/regional
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**Headquarters Team:**
Ron Boenau  (USDOT Federal Transit Administration) 
[email protected]
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Mike Freitas (USDOT ITSArchitecture Consistency) 
[email protected]
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Mark Kehrli (USDOT ITSArchitecture Consistency) 
[email protected]
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Bob Rupert  (USDOT ITS Architecture Consistency) 
[email protected]
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Mike Schagrin (USDOT ITSStandards Program) 
[email protected]
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Publication No.FHWA-OP-01-031
EDL No. 13478 (www.its.dot.gov/welcome.htm)
www.its.dot.gov
Toll-Free Help Line866-367-7487********