Integration Taken to New Heights

This article describes how a major initiative in managing numerous transport networks as a single system has moved into a significant phase with the design of new sophisticated intelligent transportation systems (ITS). The article shows how detailed design work is under way on two pilot projects pursuing a common principle, that transportation can be made more efficient or effective if the various networks and modes of travel are managed as a whole system. This is the central purpose of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Integrated Corridor Management (ICM) program. The articles discusses how ICM is now emerging from phases of research and modeling, into implementation and demonstration, the last of which will start when design completion leads to installation on two transport corridors. One of the installations will be in San Diego, California and the other will be in Dallas, Texas.