Impediments to ATMS deployment in the U.S. - A perspective from the field

This paper discusses some of the various impediments to deploying ATMS in the United States from the perspective of transportation officials in the field. Deciding to implement ITS on a wide-spread, non-research level is not as simple as hearing the battlecry of the national leaders. There are many real issues that confront the local transportation agencies that need to be carefully considered. One issue is funding. Most areas do not receive earmarked funds to deploy ATMS like Atlanta. Yet, for ATMS to deploy substantially, earmarked funds are not the solution according to the authors who point to other, larger sources of money in the current transportation programs. Maintenance of these sophisticated systems is a substantial issue that must be taken seriously. Without federal participation, this is a very real concern for financially strapped departments who, like Atlanta, must also contend with significant operating costs. The use of advanced technologies also increases in difficulty with "real world" contract requirements dealing with proprietary products, warranties, or even unique state laws. An ATMS does not decrease the number of personnel needed, but in many instances increases the number and changes the type needed. Most departments do not have the expertise needed to develop and maintain these sophisticated systems, and these monitoring systems can inform the staff of maintenance problems that tended to go unnoticed previously. Finally, the authors mention difficulties in deploying ATMS within the existing, and many times incompatible, condition of field equipment as well as across jurisdictional boundaries.