Metropolitan Transit ITS Adoption in the United States

This paper presents information on deployment of Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS), also known as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for transit. This summary information is designed to be useful to both governmental agencies and the private sector for an overview of the current deployment and interest in additional purchase of these systems. Data was collected during the summer and fall of 2004, through an Internet survey. It is compared to data collected in similar surveys in previous years. The results show that use of ridership supportive technologies and participation in a regional ITS architecture are the most widespread of technologies related to FTA initiatives. High-cost transit agencies are lead adopters of a number of ITS technologies. Technologies with high deployment and low plans tend to be technologies that automate or improve on existing transit functions, rather than introduce new ways of operating. Technologies with low deployment tend to be those that require coordination with highway or traffic agencies. Technologies designed to facilitate improved operations and increased efficiency generally have low to moderate levels of deployment and plans.