The Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee (GCM) Corridor was identified as an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Priority Corridor under the Federal 1991 Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA). Corridor programs stress the importance of interoperability and information sharing among transit and highway departments and other programs such as police, fire, and emergency medical services. The foundation of a seamless transportation information infrastructure for the northeastern Illinois region is embodied in the GCM Corridor Program Plan, the Strategic Early Deployment Plan initiated by the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS), and the National ITS Architecture. Consistent with regional efforts, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and its operating agencies (CTA, Metra and Pace) have been jointly pursuing a number of advanced transit technologies ranging from signal priority to real-time traveler information systems. However, realization of the full potential of ITS can only occur with integration of these technologies and the information made available through their implementation. Accordingly, the RTA initiated a multi jurisdictional approach known as the Regional Transit ITS Plan (RTIP) to serve as the comprehensive plan for further study and development of a regional blueprint for transit ITS implementation. This paper will present the findings of the RTA's plan and highlight areas of focus for implementing a coordinated deployment strategy for transit ITS in the region.
Abstract