Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are the integrated application of various technologies and management strategies to provide traveler information to increase the safety and efficiency of the surface transportation system. This ITS architecture document represents the next in a series of steps intended to chart a course for ITS in the greater Indianapolis area.

Click here to go directly to the documentation of the ITS.

A regional ITS architecture is a framework for describing, planning, and implementing intelligent transportation systems. It is intended to promote integration between stakeholders by providing a common framework under which stakeholders in a region can build intelligent transportation systems. Once implemented, these systems can combine to increase the safety and efficiency of the surface transportation system.

As a further incentive for the development of regional ITS architectures, the Federal High Way Administration (FHWA) developed a Rule and the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) developed a parallel Policy to enact Section 5206(e) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) in April of 2001. This Rule/Policy states that, in order to receive funding through the Highway Trust Fund, any region in the United States that has deployed or will soon deploy ITS projects must develop a regional ITS architecture by April 8, 2005. With the significant number of ITS projects at various stages of implementations, such as the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) TrafficWise program, IndyGo's Bus Automatic Vehicle Locationing (AVL) Project, and the future City of Indianapolis Traffic Management Center (TMC), Indianapolis certainly falls within this category.

The FHWA has provided a number of resources to assist architecture developers around the country with their task. First, the FHWA created the National ITS Architecture as a guide for the development of regional ITS architectures. Now in its sixth version, the National ITS Architecture provides architecture developers with a common vocabulary, promoting the integration and interoperability of ITS systems. The FHWA's "Regional ITS Architecture Guidance Document" (Oct. 12, 2001) elaborates on the Rule/Policy, providing recommendations for each stage of architecture development. In addition, the FHWA developed Turbo Architecture® software as a tool for assembling, organizing, and displaying the information necessary to create and use ITS architecture. Visit FHWA's ITS Architecture Implementation Program webpage for general information and documentation on ITS. 

As the architecture "champions," the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and INDOT have led the effort to bring stakeholders together to create this Indianapolis Regional ITS Architecture, and will be responsible for the ongoing use and maintenance of this architecture. This work has been performed in close coordination with INDOT's concurrent development of the Indiana Statewide ITS Architecture, which serves as a link between the thirteen regional ITS architectures across Indiana.

Overall, this Indianapolis Regional ITS Architecture is intended to promote continued improvements in the movement of goods and people throughout the region through the implementation of ITS strategies, technologies, and projects. Most importantly, the deployment of these ITS strategies, technologies, and infrastructure will help to make the metropolitan Indianapolis transportation system safer, better coordinated, and more efficient. In addition, by taking a cooperative multi-agency approach, the MPO and partner agencies will be able to better integrate ITS related efforts beyond their boundaries, pool funds, and deploy ITS technologies and projects that benefit not only the Indianapolis region, but the entire State of Indiana. View an ITS Architecture Chart that outlines the process.

ITS Final Report Documents

ITS Architecture Main Document  - includes ITS Change Request Form and documentation (large download)

ITS Change Request Form  (only)

ITS Appendix A: Inventory of Existing Documentation
ITS Appendix B: Project Outreach
ITS Appendix C: Stakeholder List
ITS Appendix D: Stakeholder Survey Template
ITS Appendix E: Telephone Interview Template
ITS Appendix F: Stakeholder Workshop Notes
ITS Appendix G: Interconnect Diagrams
ITS Appendix H: Detailed Regional Project List
ITS Appendix I: Submitted Change Request Forms
ITS MDC Resolution (7/20/2005)

For more information email MPO Principal Planner Stephanie Belch.