Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced transit agencies in Dallas and San Diego will serve as the nation's first demonstration sites for new Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). The agencies will receive a total of $14 million to pilot the technology.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit will receive $5.3 million for an $8.3 million ITS project. The agency will use a transportation management model to predict travel conditions 30 minutes ahead of time and divert traffic to other routes during freeway incidents or special events along U.S. Highway 75. Commuters will gain access to real-time information about traffic, public transit and expected travel times via wireless and Web-based alerts.

In addition, the San Diego Association of Governments will obtain $8.7 million for a $10.9 million ITS project.

The USDOT’s ITS initiative is jointly sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and Research and Innovative Technology Administration.