The farebox automatically adjusts for rate increases and fare changes, and it tells commuters if their card has become invalid. Peters said a next step for ITS in the Phoenix area will be multijurisdictional coordination of traffic signals. This would mean that traffic signals across the metropolitan area would be timed to change together, making it possible for many commuters to leave the city and reach their homes in the suburbs without hitting a red light. Seattle and the Puget Sound area, another ITS model site, are testing devices that let travelers who run into trouble on the road send for help immediately. Peters said Seattle users of the World Wide Web can plan their routes to work before they leave home, saving valuable time.
Users can pull up a real-time display showing which freeways are most congested.
Metropolitan New York City is the fourth model ITS site. The three states have formed an agency called TransCom, which provides communications about highway incidents. Before TransCom, Peters said, commuters from one state might have information about accidents or roadwork near their homes but could be in for unpleasant surprises as soon as they crossed into a new jurisdiction. U.S. athletes were not the only shining stars at the 1996 Olympic Games, as far as transportation experts are concerned. The Traveler Information Showcase in Atlanta during the Olympics won a gold medal of its own.