ITS Deployment in Ohio: Public Education First

Variable Message Sign

Does the average citizen know what an intelligent transportation system (ITS) is? Does it affect ITS deployment? Eastgate Council of Governments’ (COG) transportation planning department and partners asked these questions in 1996, when they began an early ITS deployment study for the two-county region. The answers were: no, most average citizens do not know that ITS is traffic signals, emergency management, traveler information, railroad crossing control, electronic fare/toll collection, transit management, freeway management and incident management. And yes, public buy-in does matter to ITS deployment.

As an Economic Development Administration funded district in Youngstown, Ohio, Eastgate COG drew upon its experience in administering programs where benefits are best realized through public participation to develop an ITS deployment plan. “The plan used the need to educate the public as a backbone and scheduled short-term, easy-to-implement ITS projects. We wanted to show the public right away the benefits of ITS,” explained Ken Sympson, Eastgate COG’s Transportation Engineer.

Among the short-term projects that have been scheduled for deployment are the installation of variable signs. Variable message signs are large (nine feet by six feet), permanently mounted, solar-powered and cost approximately $17,000 each. The signs provide electronic information on congestion, weather, road conditions and recommended diversions due to accidents. They are cellular-equipped and messages can be changed by telephoning the sign and punching in message codes. Sympson noted, “Explaining ITS at public meetings will be easier now because of the visual presence and tangible benefits of the signs.”

Purchasing portable, changeable message signs is also another easy-to-implement ITS element. Sympson noted the impact of portable deployment, “Their portability helps us reach the rural community. The signs have radar. Stored messages appear in reaction to area conditions, giving the rural public access to real-time information.” Eastgate COG, under an agreement with county engineers, will store and deploy the signs as needed.

Highway-Rail Grade Crossing

Eastgate COG’s long-term ITS projects, which take longer to implement, are scheduled for deployment after short-term projects are in operation and visible. One such project will be to improve the safety of highway-rail intersections. Using the ability of ITS to interact with other technology systems, electronic signals will be transmitted to in-vehicle devices to create audible warnings of approaching trains to drivers.

Public awareness was not the only factor used to determine project priority. According to Sympson, Eastgate COG’s technical advisory committee and governing board members advised the COG on community needs and deployment challenges. Jim Wells, Eastgate COG’s Transportation Director, summed up the importance of boards and committees in the ITS planning process, “By having the COG’s board members, who are local elected officials, transportation experts and informed citizens, get involved in the ITS planning process, we were educating the public through word of mouth and building a base for needed local funding matches.”

By Kelly Novak, NADO Research Foundation Research Manager

For more information contact Ken Sympson of Eastgate COG at (330) 746-7601 or visit them at www.edata.org/transportplan.htm.

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