ITS, the integration of several information and control technologies, is a tool to enhance mobility, energy efficiency, and environmental protection. The APTS program was established to encourage innovation and to develop worthwhile approaches that use advanced technology to improve public transportation and ridesharing. APTS projects fall into several categories. By making transit more efficient and reliable, it should be more attractive to prospective riders, transit operators, and the municipalities they serve. Communications Systems Telecommunications technology is growing and changing, stimulated largely by both a need to make better use of the limited electromagnetic spectrum to accommodate growing communication needs and spectrum allocation actions by the Federal regulating agencies.
APTS technologies introduce new communications requirements.
Currently, transit mainly uses conventional land mobile communication services, but it is unlikely these services alone will meet the needs of full-fledged APTS technologies. Innovative strategies, such as trunked radio, overlaying on transmissions by conventional commercial FM radio stations, low earth orbit satellite services, or cellular phone, are potential solutions. The main benefit is an easing of the strain on the communications network and better utilization of frequency spectrum. Automatic Vehicle Location Systems Computer-based vehicle tracking systems are being used extensively by transit agencies to monitor their vehicles. Over the last four years, their use by transit systems in the U.S. has increased more than 200 percent, and there are now at least 58 AVL systems in operation, under installation, or planned.