This article argues that the key to the successful application of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) lies in its early stages, and cites examples from across the USA. It is evident that the first goal for any ITS project management team should be cross-agency consensus. Consensus-building is a new challenge for agencies used to working independently. Its process includes co-operation between transport agencies and non-transport agencies such as police and fire departments, emergency service providers, and emergency centres. HNTB Corporation is guiding several transport agencies, and acts as a consultant to several major metropolitan areas in the USA. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA), which became US law in 1991, is helping to increase ITS use in the USA. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is one organisation that is taking a new view of ITS and is redefining its funding programmes and visions to include significant commitments to operations and maintenance. It also created two regional traffic operations centres, to improve customer services, traffic operations, and traffic management. HNTB has led studies in the states of New York and Kentucky also. It has recommended the development of standards for construction projects that include ITS elements.
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