ITS Architecture Implementation Program
time lapse of traffic traveling down and exiting from a freeway at night
21st Century Operations Using twenty-first Century Technologies

Federal Transit Administration National ITS Architecture Policy on Transit Projects

Home > FHWA Rule/FTA Policy

AGENCY(S): Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice

Federal Register Publication

Sections:

  1. Purpose
  2. Definitions
  3. Policy
  4. Applicability
  5. Regional ITS Architecture
  6. Project Implementation
  7. Project Oversight
  8. FTA Guidance

I. Purpose

This policy provides procedures for implementing section 5206(e) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, Public Law 105-178, 112 Stat. 547, pertaining to conformance with the National Intelligent Transportation Systems Architecture and Standards.

Top of Page

II. Definitions

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) means electronics, communications or information processing used singly or in combination to improve the efficiency or safety of a surface transportation system.

ITS project means any project that in whole or in part funds the acquisition of technologies or systems of technologies that provide or significantly contribute to the provision of one or more ITS user services as defined in the National ITS Architecture.

Major ITS project means any ITS project that implements part of a regional ITS initiative that is multi-jurisdictional, multi-modal, or otherwise affects regional integration of ITS systems

National ITS Architecture (also "national architecture") means a common framework for ITS interoperability. The National ITS Architecture comprises the logical architecture and physical architecture which satisfy a defined set of user services. The National ITS Architecture is maintained by U.S. DOT (Department of Transportation) and is available on the DOT web site at http://www.its.dot.gov.

Project level ITS architecture is a framework that identifies the institutional agreement and technical integration necessary to interface a major ITS project with other ITS projects and systems.

Region is the geographical area that identifies the boundaries of the regional ITS architecture and is defined by and based on the needs of the participating agencies and other stakeholders. A region can be specified at a metropolitan, Statewide, multi-State, or corridor level. In metropolitan areas, a region should be no less than the boundaries of the metropolitan planning area.

Regional ITS architecture means a regional framework for ensuring institutional agreement and technical integration for the implementation of ITS projects or groups of projects.

Systems engineering is a structured process for arriving at a final design of a system. The final design is selected from a number of alternatives that would accomplish the same objectives and considers the total life-cycle of the project including not only the technical merits of potential solutions but also the costs and relative value of alternatives.

Top of Page

III. Policy

ITS projects shall conform to the National ITS Architecture and standards in accordance with the requirements contained in this part. Conformance with the National ITS Architecture is interpreted to mean the use of the National ITS Architecture to develop a regional ITS architecture in support of integration and the subsequent adherence of all ITS projects to that regional ITS architecture. Development of the regional ITS architecture should be consistent with the transportation planning process for Statewide and Metropolitan Transportation Planning (49 CFR Part 613 and 621).

Top of Page

IV. Applicability

  1. All ITS projects that are funded in whole or in part with the Highway Trust Fund (including the Mass Transit Account) are subject to these provisions.
  2. The Secretary may authorize exceptions for:
    1. Projects designed to achieve specific research objectives outlined in the National ITS Program Plan under section 5205 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century or the Surface Transportation Research and Development Strategic Plan developed under section 5208 of Title 23, United States Code; or
    2. The upgrade or expansion of an ITS system in existence on the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century if the Secretary determines that the upgrade or expansion --
      1. Would not adversely affect the goals or purposes of Subtitle C (Intelligent Transportation Systems) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century and
      2. Is carried out before the end of the useful life of such system; and
      3. Is cost-effective as compared to alternatives that would meet the conformity requirement of this rule
  3. These provisions do not apply to funds used for Operations and Maintenance of an ITS system in existence on June 9, 1998.

Top of Page

V. Regional ITS Architecture

  1. A regional ITS architecture shall be developed to guide the development of ITS projects and programs and be consistent with ITS strategies and projects contained in applicable transportation plans. The National ITS Architecture shall be used as a resource in the development of the regional ITS architecture. The regional ITS architecture shall be on a scale commensurate with the scope of ITS investment in the region. Provision should be made to include participation from the following agencies, as appropriate, in the development of the regional ITS architecture: highway agencies; public safety agencies (e.g., police, fire, emergency/medical); transit agencies; federal lands agencies; state motor carrier agencies; and other operating agencies necessary to fully address regional ITS integration.
  2. Any region that is currently implementing ITS projects shall have a regional ITS architecture February 7, 2005.
  3. All other regions not currently implementing ITS projects shall have a regional ITS architecture within four years of the first ITS project for that region advancing to final design.
  4. The regional ITS architecture shall include, at a minimum, the following:
    1. A description of the region;
    2. Identification of participating agencies and other stakeholders;
    3. An operational concept that identifies the roles and responsibilities of participating agencies and stakeholders in the operation and implementation of the systems included in the regional ITS architecture;
    4. Any agreements (existing or new) required for operations, including at a minimum those affecting integration of ITS projects; interoperability of different ITS technologies, utilization of ITS-related standards, and the operation of the projects identified in the regional ITS architecture;
    5. System functional requirements;
    6. Interface requirements and information exchanges with planned and existing systems and subsystems (for example, subsystems and architecture flows as defined in the National ITS Architecture);
    7. Identification of ITS standards supporting regional and national interoperability;
    8. The sequence of projects required for implementation of the regional ITS architecture.
  5. Existing regional ITS architectures that meet all of the requirements of section V(d) shall be considered to satisfy the requirements of V(a).
  6. The agencies and other stakeholders participating in the development of the regional ITS architecture shall develop and implement procedures and responsibilities for maintaining the regional ITS architecture, as needs evolve within the region.

Top of Page

VI. Project Implementation

  1. All ITS projects funded with Mass Transit Funds from the Highway Trust Fund shall be based on a systems engineering analysis.
  2. The analysis should be on a scale commensurate with the project scope.
  3. The systems engineering analysis shall include, at a minimum:
    1. Identification of portions of the regional ITS architecture being implemented (or if a regional ITS architecture does not exist, the applicable portions of the National ITS Architecture).
    2. Identification of participating agencies' roles and responsibilities;
    3. Requirements definitions:
    4. Analysis of alternative system configurations and technology options to meet requirements;
    5. Analysis of financing and procurement options;
    6. Identification of applicable ITS standards and testing procedures; and
    7. Procedures and resources necessary for operations and management of the system;
  4. Upon completion of the regional ITS architecture required in section V, the final design of all ITS projects funded with highway trust funds shall accommodate the interface requirements and information exchanges as specified in the regional ITS architecture. If the final design of the ITS project is inconsistent with the regional ITS architecture, then the regional ITS architecture shall be updated as per the process defined in V(f) to reflect the changes.
  5. Prior to completion of the regional ITS architecture, any major ITS project funded with highway trust funds that advances to final design shall have a project level ITS architecture that is coordinated with the development of the regional ITS architecture. The final design of the major ITS project shall accommodate the interface requirements and information exchanges as specified in this project level ITS architecture. If the project final design is inconsistent with the project level architecture, then the project level ITS architecture shall be updated to reflect the changes. The project level ITS architecture is based on results of the systems engineering analysis, and includes the following:
    1. A description of the scope of the ITS project
    2. An operational concept that identifies the roles and responsibilities of participating agencies and stakeholders in the operation and implementation of the ITS project;
    3. Functional requirements of the ITS project;
    4. Interface requirements and information exchanges between the ITS project and other planned and existing systems and subsystems; and
    5. Identification of applicable ITS standards
  6. All ITS projects funded with Mass Transit Funds from the Highway Trust Funds shall use applicable ITS standards and interoperability tests that have been officially adopted through rulemaking by the United States Department of Transportation (US DOT).
  7. Any ITS project that has advanced to final design by (effective date of policy) is exempt from the requirements of VI.

Top of Page

VII. Project Oversight

  1. Prior to authorization of Mass Transit Funds from the Highway Trust Fund for acquisition or implementation of ITS projects, grantees shall self-certify compliance with sections V and VI. Compliance with this policy shall be monitored under normal FTA oversight procedures, to include annual risk assessments, triennial reviews, and program management oversight reviews as applicable.
  2. Compliance with the following FTA Circulars shall also be certified:
    • C5010.1C, Grant Management Guidelines
    • C6100.1B, Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines

Top of Page

VIII. FTA Guidance

FTA will develop appropriate guidance materials regarding the National ITS Architecture Consistency Policy.

Top of Page