ARC-IT Use In Transportation Planning

Monitoring and evaluation Evaluate M&O strategies Identify M&O strategies Define performance measures Transportation improvement program and other funding programs Metropolitan or Statewide Transportation Plan Systematic process to develop and select M&) strategies to meet objectives Operations objectives Regional goals and motivation Congestion Management Process Planning Factors
Technology-based systems can pose real challenges for transportation planning. No one can accurately forecast progressive technology advances over a 20-year timeframe, but we know that technology advances will occur. We also know that individual systems will become increasingly integrated over time, but this can be even more difficult to plan with institutional challenges adding to technology uncertainty. The Architecture Reference for Cooperative and Intelligent Transportation (ARC-IT) was developed specifically to address these challenges and support planning for progressive integration and technology advances to improve the surface transportation system over time.

Most states and metropolitan areas have already developed a regional ITS architecture that represents the future integrated surface transportation system in the region. Of course, the regional ITS architecture must be kept up-to-date as technologies evolve and regional transportation strategies and priorities change over time. Using the regional ITS architecture, a region can plan for technology application and integration to support more effective planning for operations. The regional ITS architecture provides context for ITS projects so that each project can build a piece of the envisioned transportation system. By using the architecture as a planning tool, the steps taken by each project will be on the path to fulfilling the larger objectives set forth in the long range transportation plan. The details of how the regional ITS architecture can be used as a tool to support metropolitan and statewide transportation planning is defined in this planning view.

Planning for Operations (https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/plan4ops/index.htm) seeks to integrate operations into the metropolitan and statewide transportation planning processes. The Planning for Operations Web Site includes a wealth of resources including four that are primary sources for the content presented in this view:

An objectives-driven, performance-based approach is recommended so that operations needs are addressed in regional planning and investment decisions in a systematic, measurable way. Many of the management and operations strategies that are defined through this process rely on technology and system integration, and this is where an ITS architecture can be an effective tool to support planning for operations.

Select the steps in the objectives-driven, performance-based approach to planning for operations (in the diagram above) to explore sample planning outputs and their connection to the ITS Architecture.

The mapping between goals, objectives, and service packages that is included in the Use in Planning Web Pages can be used to support an analysis of the service packages that are most relevant for your region. The mappings included on this site should only be used as a starting point; users should do their own analysis to identify the best service packages for their region.