Implementing an Integrated Intelligent 

Transportation System (ITS) Infrastructure

Traffic Analysis Toolbox

The Traffic Analysis Toolbox is a set of documents that provides 

guidance on the role and use of traffic analysis tools in transportation analyses. “Traffic analysis tools” is a collective term used 

to describe a variety of software-based analytical procedures and 

methodologies that support different aspects of traffic and transportation analyses. These include methodologies such as sketchplanning, travel demand modeling, traffic signal optimization, and 

traffic simulation. Documents currently in the toolbox include 

Volume I: Traffic Analysis Tools Primer, Volume II: Decision 

Support Methodology for Selecting Traffic Analysis Tools, Volume 

III: Guidelines for Applying Traffic Microsimulation Modeling 

Software, and Volume IV: CORSIM Application Guidelines.

Adaptive Control Systems 

FHWA in collaboration with the private sector has developed 

three Adaptive Control Systems (ACS) software packages to automatically generate new signal timing plans to respond to traffic 

flow changes in real time. Prototype algorithms were evaluated in 

Reston, VA; Tucson, AZ; and Seattle, WA. The software prototypes showed positive results, and the deployment of the ACS 

packages is underway.

ACS Lite

FHWA in conjunction with manufacturers of traffic control and 

signal equipment have developed and field tested the ACS Lite 

software. ACS Lite is a low-cost control software designed as 

an original or a retrofit for closed-loop systems. The field tests 

show that the software, responding to changing traffic conditions, 

improves system performance while reducing user costs. FHWA, in 

partnership with Econolite, PEEK, Eagle, and McCain, developed 

and tested the software in systems manufactured by these 

vendors and arranged for the software to be available from these 

manufacturers.

A second phase to improve control logic, user interfaces, data 

archiving, and database development is underway. FHWA will 

perform laboratory testing of these enhancements prior to release 

to the four participating entities.

Traffic Estimation and Prediction System 

The Traffic Estimation and Prediction System (TrEPS) software 

will provide the predictive information needed for proactive traffic 

control and traveler information. TrEPS will facilitate and enhance 

planning analysis, operational evaluation, and real-time advanced 

transportation systems operation. Laboratory evaluation of the 

TrEPS prototypes is complete, and the planning version of the 

software is available from the University of Floridea’s McTrans 

Center. The State of Texas will test the real-time version of the 

software in Harris County, TX, in the near future.

Strategic Work Zone Analysis Tools

FHWA under the Strategic Work Zone Analysis Tools (SWAT) 

program is developing a suite of four tools to facilitate the 

analysis of work zone strategies to reduce delay to motorists, 

identify viable mitigation strategies, consider the costs of various 

options, and provide guidance on establishing work zone 

performance-based contracting specifications. The first software 

tool, QuickZone, is a spreadsheet package available to analyze 

the traffic impacts of work zones. QuickZone also features 

partnerships with up to eight jurisdictions, allowing customization 

of the software for local needs. The software is available from the 

University of Florida’s McTrans Center. The planned work for this 

program includes an economic analysis package that will permit a 

decision maker to include motorists’ costs in the overall decision 

process. The visualization tool will permit the designers to 

“drive” the work zone, and TrEPs linkage will quantify the traffic 

diversion due to congestion from work zones.

Traffic Management Tools—Handbooks

Researchers are working to update a series of handbooks covering traffic detectors, traffic signal control systems, and freeway 

management. These handbooks will help traffic managers and 

practitioners use equipment and other technologies for efficient 

operation of traffic corridors and networks. The revised Traffic 

Detector Handbook, Third Edition, is available.

Integrated Corridor Management

The greatest concentration of highway congestion is often along 

critical transportation corridors that link residential areas with 

business centers, sports arenas, and shopping areas. The U.S. 

Department of Transportation (USDOT) has launched the 

Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) Initiative to optimize all 

transportation corridor networks through proactive, integrated, 

and multimodal management and operation among all corridor 

transportation agencies. With ICM, transportation professionals 

manage the transportation corridor as a multimodal system rather 

The Office of Operations Research and 

Development (R&D) is making major contributions to help the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) meet its mobility, 

safety, and security goals through completed 

or planned products and activities with the 

following strategies:

www.tfhrc.gov/its/its.htm

Office of Operations R&D

Federal Highway Administration  TURNER-FAIRBANK HIGHWAY RESEARCH CENTER
FHWA-HRT-08-030

HRDO-03/08-08(2M)E

than taking the more traditional approach 

of managing individual assets. 

The implementation of ICM is a 

natural evolution of current Intelligent 

Transportation Systems (ITS) deployment 

and transportation operations practices. 

USDOT is conducting targeted research 

in the areas of ICM systems integrations 

and ICM modeling and simulation 

tools development. Both public and 

private entities are refining the existing 

transportation modeling and simulation 

tools for analysis of ICM applications. 

These tools will enable transportation 

decision makers and operators to optimize 

multimodal corridor operations in real 

time and to assess the impacts and benefits 

of individual corridor strategies and 

approaches prior to implementation. 

Exploratory Advanced Research Program

The FHWA Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program is a new initiative 

to explore research topic areas that could 

result in revolutionary improvements to 

our Nation’s surface transportation system. 

FHWA and its partners are exploring a 

combination of project-based work, scanning and convening efforts, and in-house 

research which will result in advancements 

in traffic control, vehicle control, and the 

further integration and automation of 

vehicle and roadway components.

Developing and Implementing 

Technologies Focusing on 

Weather, Security, and Lifesaving

Weather-Related Impacts on Traffic 

Operations Study

Adverse weather conditions can 

dramatically impact the operation and 

quality of traffic flow. With the advent 

of advanced traffic management systems, 

there is an opportunity to develop traffic 

management strategies that can minimize 

the negative weather-related impacts on 

traffic operations. The primary objective 

of this study is to identify how weather 

events impact traffic operations. Efforts are 

underway also to incorporate the TrEPS 

algorithm into weather-related strategies to 

assess the adverse impacts, diversions, and 

other weather-related phenomena.

Cooperative Intersection Collision 

Avoidance Systems Initiative

The Cooperative Intersection Collision 

Avoidance Systems (CICAS) is a major 

USDOT intelligent transportation systems 

(ITS) initiative. In partnership with 

automotive manufacturers, State and local 

transportation departments, and universities, CICAS will develop intersection safety 

countermeasures to reduce crashes caused 

by red light and stop sign violations. The 

countermeasures will be “cooperative” in 

that they will take advantage of wireless 

communications between the vehicle and 

roadside, enabled by vehicle infrastructure 

integration (VII) technologies. FHWA will 

develop the CICAS countermeasures followed by lab testing prior to a decision to 

conduct field operational tests. If these tests 

are successful, the goal is to support deployment of these systems at our Nation’s intersections and within the U.S. vehicle fleet.

ITS Applications for Communications

This work provides program support and 

assistance for developing standards and 

analyzing the application of Dedicated 

Short-Range Communication (DSRC) on 

the 5.9 GHz frequency band to support 

transportation safety and mobility 

initiatives. This effort includes possible 

uses of DSRC to support vehicle-toinfrastructure communications to enable 

enhanced intersection collision avoidance 

systems and other cooperative safety and 

mobility services.

Clear Roads Pooled Fund Research 

Program 

The Clear Roads pooled fund research 

program, currently made up of 13 State 

transportation departments, has initiated a 

national winter safety campaign to reduce 

crashes and fatalities on our Nation’s highways. With the tremendous support and 

assistance from volunteer public information officers in many snow-belt states, Clear 

Roads has developed a theme and outreach 

materials slated for distribution to interested States. The Clear Roads Technical 

Oversight Committee is hoping that, “Ice 

and Snow, Take it Slow!” will become as 

familiar and influential to our drivers as the 

“Give ‘em a brake” campaign used during 

summer construction.

Developing and Implementing a 

Reliable Nationwide Differential 

Global Positioning System 

Base Stations for the Nationwide 

Differential Global Positioning System

This project is converting signal stations 

transferred from the U.S. Department of 

Defense to the USDOT into base stations 

for the Nationwide Differential Global 

Positioning System (NDGPS). It provides 

additional coverage and increased position 

location accuracy for vehicle-based and 

stationary NDGPS receivers. NDGPS is 

an important enabling technology that 

provides accurate location information 

for ITS applications such as transit fleet 

management, in-vehicle navigation, and 

automated collision notification systems. 

Ninety-seven percent of the Nation is 

covered by single coverage, and 67 percent 

by dual coverage that provides 1- to 

3-meter accuracy.

FHWA will serve as a lead agency (as 

defined by 40 CFR Part 1 508.16) for all 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

matters regarding the implementation of 

the NDGPS service. FHWA implementing 

regulations (23 CFR 771) for environmental 

impact analysis and procedural compliance 

with NEPA will be used. FHWA will 

prepare NEPA documents for the proposed 

NDGPS service, as well as follow-on sitespecific analyses and documentation that 

may be required for future implementation 

of the NDGPS service. 

High Accuracy NDGPS

FHWA is instrumenting and testing three 

NDGPS stations to explore the potential for 

even higher accuracies in the range of 

100 millimeters horizontal or better.

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factsheet because they are considered essential to the objective of this communication.