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On April 8, 2001, the FHWA issued Rule 940 entitled Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Architecture and Standards and the concurrently FTA issued a policy entitled National ITS Architecture Policy on Transit Projects. The intent of the Rule and Policy is to require procedures for implementing sections of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) requiring ITS projects to conform to the National ITS Architecture (NITSA) and standards.
The Rule requires that agencies develop a regional architecture based on the NITSA that reflects the local needs, issues, problems and objectives for implementation and is consistent with the transportation planning process for statewide and metropolitan planning practice. Each region has four years to adopt a regional architecture that includes: (1) a description of the region; (2) identification of participating agencies and other stakeholders; (3) An operational concept; (4) Any agreements required for implementation; (5) system functional requirements; (6) interface requirements; (7) identification of ITS standards; and (8) a sequence of projects required for implementation. In addition, any project that moves into design is required to follow a systems engineering analysis that is commensurate with the project scope. A project is defined as an ITS project or program that will receive federal-aid. If the project moves into design prior to the completion of a regional architecture, a project architecture is required to support the system engineering analysis. The system engineering approach shall include at a minimum:
(1) identification of portions of the regional architecture being implemented; (2) identification of participating agencies roles and responsibilities; (3) requirements definition; (4) analysis of alternate system configurations and technology options to meet requirements; (5) procurement options; (6) identification of applicable standards and testing procedures; (7) procedures and resources necessary for operations and management of the system.
The Department has prepared an Issue Paper on the possible implementation of this Rule in Florida. The major policy recommendations of the paper are as follows:
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Adopt FDOT Districts as the regions for purposes of implementing the Rule. |
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Adopt the Statewide ITS Architecture as the regional architecture for Florida. |
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Each District Office would be responsible for coordination with MPOs and other local jurisdictions to ensure the District-level architectures are consistent with the metropolitan planning process. |
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The ITS Office will provide technical assistance and support as requested by the Districts. |
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The ITS Office will modify the Issue Paper as appropriate to achieve concurrence with the FHWA, MPOAC, and Systems Planning to guide the implementation of Rule 940 in Florida. |
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The ITS Office will coordinate an implementation plan for this rule that includes the following actions: |
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Identify District ITS staff who will be responsible for maintaining each District ITS architecture and coordinating with ITS Office, District Planning Office staff, and MPO. |
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The District Planning Office and District ITS Offices will work with the MPOs to determine a priority of MPO ITS architecture review based on needs and the relation to other planning or architecture projects. Based on this priority, the ITS Office will provide technical assistance and training as appropriate. |
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The District and MPO staff will work together to update and refine the District and MPO ITS architectures as needed. The ITS Office will provide technical assistance as needed. |
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The ITS Office will develop a training program for ITS Architecture/Planning customized for MPOs, local government planning and District planning staff and management. |
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The ITS Office and the Systems Planning Office will develop a guidebook that includes an update to the ITS Planning Guidelines prepared by the Systems Planning Office, guidance on how to address the Rule 940 implementation, and the results of the ITS Integration Guidelines being developed by District Seven. The guidebook will be supplemented with a one-day training session. |
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The ITS Office will develop a summary of this Rule implementation that can be part of the stakeholder coordination process in the corridor concept plan development to answer any questions on the rule implementation process and relationship to the corridor concept plans. |
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The ITS Office in cooperation with the Districts and MPOAC will establish a process to refine and disseminate any changes to this guidance. Updates to this guidance should be made after a suitable testing period in the field where strengths, weakness and other requirements for guidance can be identified. |
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This Issue Paper and the proposed action plan is considered a draft and is being circulated among the Districts for review. Your review and comments on this information would be appreciated. Please contact Liang Hsia at the ITS Office (850) 410-5615 or liang.hsia@ dot.state.fl.us for additional information.