The Western States Rural Transportation Consortium (WSRTC) is comprised of the states of California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada, and has been established to facilitate and enhance safe, seamless travel throughout the western United States. The Consortium seeks to promote innovative partnerships, technologies and educational opportunities to meet these objectives. Additionally, the Consortium seeks to provide a collaborative mechanism to leverage research activities in a coordinated manner to respond to rural transportation issues among western states related to technology, operations and safety

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) does not have a standard centralized aviation weather monitoring system accessible to all aviation user and facilities in California. Four years ago, the Caltrans Division of Aeronautics began a research project with WTI to integrate various aviation weather information data with the Roadside Weather Information System (RWIS) data. The project development team launched a website referred to as Aviation WeatherShare (http://aviation.weathershare.org) with a prototype system that displays important aviation weather information and forecasts for the entire State, integrating a range of data from numerous sources

The Rural California/Oregon Advanced Transportation Systems (COATS) project, since its inception in 1998, has sought to improve safety and mobility in rural California through the use of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies. Earlier phases of this project have been successful in promoting ITS awareness, jumpstarting ITS planning and architecture development, demonstrating ITS technologies, testing new applications, performing evaluations, and publicizing the results. COATS Phase 7 builds on the success of earlier COATS phases to preserve and expand the COATS region as an innovator in rural ITS demonstration

This project will continue WTI’s work with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to determine the detailed content of prospective courses for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) engineers at Caltrans, identify suitable contractors to deliver the courses, and evaluate the courses.. .

The goal of this overall project is to develop and evaluate a one-stop shop traveler information platform to assist planning of rural trips. The emphasis of this phase of the project is to refine and expand (data) coverage of the One-Stop Shop..

The purpose of this project is to coordinate meetings and maintain the website for the Western States Rural Transportation Consortium (WSRTC), and to provide support for the Western States Forum.

Visit the forum website http://www.westernstatesforum.org. .

The goal of WeatherShare Phase 4 is to continue to develop the WeatherShare prototype system to match the needs of Caltrans maintenance and operations personnel in terms of combining functionality of WeatherShare, SCAN WebTM and SCAN SentryTM into a single, open system.. .

The objective of this project is to coordinate meetings and maintain the website for the Western States Rural Transportation Consortium (WSRTC), as well as provide support for the annual Western States Rural Transportation Technology Implementers Forum. .

The goal of this project is to update the curriculum and conduct further training for Rural ITS communications in order to build the professional capacity of rural ITS engineers.

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The purpose of this project is to build on the success of earlier phases of the Rural California/Oregon Advanced Transportation Systems (COATS) project, in order to preserve and expand the COATS region as an innovator in rural ITS demonstration.. .

The goal of this project is to develop enhanced road weather layers for the QuickMap travel information interface used by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).. .

The objective of this project is to assist the Western States Rural Transportation Consortium with specific tasks, including meeting coordination, website maintenance and the Western States Forum.. .

The goal of this project is to investigate the expansion of a prototype information delivery mechanism throughout the western states region consisting of California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada.. .

The objective of this project is to conduct technology transfer and outreach activities to continue and enhance rural ITS deployment in the COATS region.. .

The objective of this fourth phase of the Roadkill Observation Collection System (ROCS) project will be to implement the PDA based version of ROCS from Phase 3 on a Google Android –based smart-phone.. .

The goal of this project is to develop, deliver, and evaluate a training curriculum on plant wired ITS communication technologies for rural ITS engineers and technicians.. .

The objective of this project is to coordinate meetings and maintain a website for the Western States Rural Transportation Consortium (WSRTC).. .

The goal of this research project is to evaluate winter chemicals and provide guidance on the most appropriate winter maintenance strategies to apply under specific roadway and climatic conditions within the Idaho Transportation Department districts. The research will evaluate the effectiveness of different winter chemicals on reducing crashes in Idaho..

WTI evaluated three highways in Jackson Hole outside of Grand Teton National Park to assess the best locations for wildlife crossing mitigation.. .

The goal of this project is to investigate the expansion of a prototype information delivery mechanism throughout the western states region consisting of California, Oregon, Washington and Nevada.. .

The goal of this project is to develop, deliver, and evaluate a training curriculum on plant wired ITS communication technologies for rural ITS engineers and technicians.. .

The objective of this project is to create a user-friendly website that integrates and displays weather and road condition information for a four-state region.. .

The long-term goal of this project is to develop and evaluate system concepts that can be implemented across the rural road network to reduce speed related crashes. As a first step, the immediate objective if this first phase of research is to deploy a system to reduce speed violations (citations) and the number of speed related incidents at work zones on rural highways..

This project is a continuation of the prior phase of the Caltrans Automated Warning System Controller project. The goal is to conduct further research and development of an automated warning system controller that can be easily configured to acquire sensor data from Roadside Weather Information Systems (RWIS), detection loops, Remote Traffic Microwave Sensors (RTMS) and video detection systems, and to prepare the system for deployment in Caltrans..

The overall goal of this project is to develop one or more model response systems for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in rural areas that are regional, coordinated, accountable, and sustainable. .

This project is a continuation of the prior phase of the Caltrans Automated Warning System Controller project. The goal is to conduct further research and development of an automated warning system controller that can be easily configured to acquire sensor data from Roadside Weather Information Systems (RWIS), detection loops, Remote Traffic Microwave Sensors (RTMS) and video detection systems, and to prepare the system for deployment in Caltrans..

The goal of this project is to document how the Alaska Department of Transportation developed and deployed its RWIS system, and to provide recommendations for its future use.. .

The objective of this project is to put a variety of real-time information together in a single web-based location in a user-friendly format. This will provide travelers making a trip in or through rural areas access to current travel information on a route-specific basis, customized for a specific origin and destination, enabling drivers to travel more safely and with a minimum of delay..

The goal of this project is to provide training and build the professional capacity of rural ITS engineers and technicians by developing and delivering a hands-on rural ITS communications course.. .

The general goal of the project is to present to Caltrans/other DOT technical staff a number of new, viable alternatives for TMC-TMS communications in a (semi-) realistic, portable demonstration environment using real ITS equipment. The primary outcome of the project is the demonstration, with the system itself and associated documentation as related deliverables..

Provide expertise and support to the California Center for Innovative Transportation (CCIT) on a project looking at deploying portable, remotely controlled, changeable message signs that provide real-time delay information at critical times and locations as part of an integrated advanced traveler information system (ATIS).. .

This project is the second phase of the study examining the establishment of the WTI Systems Engineering and Integration of Transportation Technology Program (SEITTP). The purpose of this project is to address the decisions reached in the initial feasibility study conducted in Phase 1 and the development and status of the current systems engineering program area at WTI..

The objective of this project was to conduct a third phase of development of the Roadkill Observation Collection System, specifically to develop software, servers, and protocols that will facilitate transfer, storage and analysis of the data.. .

Develop hands-free electronic data collection and reporting equipment and procedures to replace hand-written methods for Emergency Relief for Federally Owned (ERFO) Roads Damage Site Reports (DSRs), bridge inspections and field surveys.. .

The overall objective of this project is to develop and field test strategies and models that small urban and rural communities can use to reduce traffic congestion during special events.. .

Enhance the coordination/consolidation process to improve specialized and public transportation systems in Montana. This will be accomplished by surveying Transportation Advisory Committees (TACs) in the state to determine their needs and creating a set of tools to assist them with their processes, providing training events for stakeholders, and developing a system to manage communication among the agencies involved..

The overall goal of this project is to identify the benefits and costs of integrating AWOS/ASOS meteorological data with RWIS weather data, and to create and test a prototype of an integrated system.. .

The general goal of the project is to determine if a mobile communications briefcase system is viable using an open architecture and Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) equipment.. .

The overall goal of this project is to identify the benefits and costs of integrating AWOS/ASOS meteorological data with RWIS weather data, and to create and test a prototype of an integrated system.. .

The overall objective of this project is to formalize, test and enhance propagation estimate techniques used to select the optimal placement of communications infrastructure using artificial intelligence.
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The overall objective of this project is to enhance or develop a routing protocol for Mobile Ad-hoc Networks and conduct proof-of-concept demonstration of Mobile Ad-hoc Networks, as a method for enhancing wireless communications for law enforcement agencies in remote, rural locations.. .

To develop a new standard and specification for Caltrans Changeable Message Signs (CMS), incorporating the advances in technology and communications over the last twenty years, while trying to ensure that the benefits of standardization, such as spare parts, training and volume purchase discounts, are achieved.. .

WTI will conduct research to develop an “Automated Safety Warning System Controller” that will interface with roadside sensors and signs. The controller will collect automated data and apply best practice algorithms to analyze sensor data and actuate related warning messages and signals..

To evaluate and prepare for full corporate deployment of the Responder System, an at-scene incident information collection, sharing, and incident support information framework for remote rural areas.. .

To evaluate and prepare for full corporate deployment of the WeatherShare system – a project to streamline and integrate available road weather data in the Northern California area into a single source easily accessible by incident responders and potentially the traveling public.. .

To adapt the prototype data collection software designed in Phase I and to conduct a Phase II pilot study of field-rugged PDA/GPS units that will enable transportation agencies, natural resource management agencies, and other interested parties to easily collect spatially accurate animal road kill data.. .

To assist the California Department of Transportation by identifying solutions to communication challenges between TMCs and TMS field devices in rural areas.. .

To provide support for the development of new routes and a schedule for the Snow Express transportation system in Big Sky, Montana, and assist with the development of a Transportation Development Plan (TDP).. .

The objective of this study is to determine the feasibility of creating a National Center for Integration and Systems Engineering of Transportation Technology (NCISETT). This center will be dedicated to developing and promoting a systems engineering approach to the integration and deployment and evaluation of complex transportation technologies..

Develop and implement an at-scene data collection system for Caltrans District 2.. .

The objective of this project is to streamline currently available weather data from Caltrans Roadway Weather Information Systems (RWIS) sites, National Weather Service sites, the U.S. Forest Service, and other sources available in the Redding area into one accessible source in a manner that is easily accessible by incident responders and potentially the traveling public..

To explore applicable ITS solutions for rural highway work zones and to develop a prototype system for real-time delay estimation and information dissemination for a two-lane highway work zone with a lane closure where a pilot car manages traffic... .

The Western Transportation Institute’s Transportation Research, Applications and Instrumentation Laboratory (TRAIL) will demonstrate and evaluate various data acquisition, control systems, information delivery, and management systems in a small urban and rural environment. Systems will be deployed that relate to weather and winter mobility, highway infrastructure design and maintenance, wildlife and ecology, commercial vehicle operations, emergency medical services and public transportation. TRAIL will be developed and deployed in multiple phases with Phases 1 and 2 being deployed locally at Montana State University-Bozeman

To develop a comprehensive service improvement plan for Galavan, a local transportation provider for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.. .

A user-centered design process will be used to document requirements, develop low fidelity prototypes, and perform initial formative evaluation of an interactive Visit Enhancement System that could be used by visitors touring on alternative transportation modes in Yellowstone National Park.. .