Introduction

The Butte County Association of Governments (BCAG) in collaboration with the Colusa and Glenn counties, Caltrans and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is embarking on the joint development of a Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture for the North Valley three county region. ITS involves the application of electronics, computers, and technology to more efficiently manage transportation systems and assets. The main purpose of an ITS architecture is to ensure that the involved transportation agencies plan, develop, and deploy their systems in a coordinated and consistent manner. Other equally important purposes are to eliminate duplication ofefforts, to stretch funding dollars, and to ensure that ITS deployed in North Valley is coordinated with ITS in adjacent regions within California.

A minimal amount of ITS is already in place in the three county region but more is planned for over the next 10 to 20 years. This project will inventory systems already in place as well as those planned for the future. Additionally, the transportation system needs of the three county region and North Valley Stakeholders (agencies that own a stake on the interest of the region) will be collected and used to formulate ITS architecture and integration recommendations.

The Plan will show, in detail, how various systems (transportation and emergency agencies like fire and police) and agencies connect and interconnect, both within three counties and with external entities. The Plan will also assist in developing agency roles and responsibilities, systems functional requirements, a list of required interagency agreements, and project sequencing.

The Stakeholders

This ITS Planning effort will be conducted in an open and coordinated fashion, primarily involving public agencies with transportation management responsibilities. Other public agencies as well as interested private entities and special interest groups are welcome to observe and participate in the process. The primary stakeholders are expected to be local agencies from the three north valley counties and cities especially those along the I-5, SH 99, and other freeway corridors within the three counties, regional public safety agencies, Caltrans, BCAG, Colusa County, Glenn County, FHWA, all transit agencies, other state and federal agencies as appropriate, and the private sector. Additional stakeholders will be identified and contacted throughout the life of the project.

Involvement

A series of four project workshops will be conducted between September 2004 and March 2005. Also, a website is in the process of being developed for the project. Project deliverables will be made available on the website for downloading, as well as other project-related materials such as meeting announcements and agendas, project contacts and workshop presentations.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Mr. Andy Newsum of Butte County Association of Governents at (530) 879-2468 or, Ms. Rita Brohman of Iteris, Inc. at (916) 772-7976.

[Fact Sheet]