California and Oregon Advanced Transportation System (COATS), Phase 5

The final report summarizes the major activities from Phase 5, including the Western States Forum and other general technology transfer activities, identification of Bluetooth reader deployment sites for future evaluation, a survey of automated safety warning devices and development of a regional ICM planning process.

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

This project is the next phase in the COATS (California and Oregon Advanced Transportation Systems) project, which was begun in 1998 as a partnership between WTI, Caltrans and Oregon DOT. The overall objective of the COATS project is to provide research and support activities to help California and Oregon cooperatively develop and deploy cost-effective and environmentally agreeable intelligent transportation systems (ITS) that enhance safety, mobility, and economic development in the region. Phase I of COATS focused on ITS planning and architecture, with deployment of an early-winner project. Phase 2 (Showcase) focused on demonstration and evaluation activities. Phase 3 had an emphasis on technology transfer. Phase 4 focused on both technology transfer and outreach, including expansion of the COATS service area into Nevada and bordering districts. Phase 5 will continue efforts to demonstrate ITS technologies in a rural context, through outreach activities and incubator projects. The primary outreach event will be the annual Western States Rural Transportation Technology Implementers Forum (WSRTTIF), a meeting focused on providing technology transfer and networking opportunities for professionals working in design, implementation, and maintenance of ITS technologies in rural environments. Researchers will also complete three incubator projects: a survey of safety warning systems deployed in the western states, a study of regional integrated corridor management planning, and an examination of the application of Bluetooth technologies for travel time data collection in rural areas. This effort is jointly sponsored by the California Department of Transportation and the University Transportation Center (UTC) program (part of the Research and Innovative Technologies Administration of the USDOT). This project represents the Caltrans portion of the overall effort.