Developing ITS to Serve Diverse Populations

In 2003, the State and Local Policy Program (SLPP) at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute \nof Public Affairs began research into how Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies can be used to \ndeliver transportation services to an increasingly diverse population in Minnesota. The research objective was \nto identify the nature of the gap between the emerging needs and existing services, and to propose ways of \nusing technology to bridge the gap, both in terms of providing better transportation options and in reducing the \ncost of these options. \nUsing the information obtained from emerging demographic data, the 2003 study focused on identifying \ntransportation challenges and opportunities for several different populations, with a particular focus on those \nthat do not or cannot drive. This project continues this general theme through a series of analyses of ITS \napplications that appear most promising to improve mobility and access for Minnesota's increasingly diverse \npopulation. These applications include technologically advanced Community-Based Transit, Car Sharing, use \nof ITS to implement Value Pricing through conversion of an HOV lane to a High-Occupancy/Toll (HOT) lane, \nand evaluation of web-based Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS).