PROMOTING INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS THROUGH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

In the past, public transportation resources derived from federal, state, and local governments. These resources most often came in the form of dollars provided by each, which meant government bodies frequently specified how the dollars would be spent. This financial arrangement effectively constrained transportation improvement options. Options were greatly expanded in 1991 when the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) was passed. ISTEA made it possible to transfer federal funds across highway and transit jurisdictions, and to fund projects jointly with a mix of public and private dollars. The transfer of funds between the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration has been the most visible feature of ISTEA and transit agencies have been the primary beneficiaries. Other provisions allow federal funds to be used in conjunction with private financing for projects such as new toll roads. The proponents of Intelligent Transportation Systems must recognize the public's interest in multi-modal solutions and begin to breed new projects which take advantage of these flexible funding provisions.