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TechPlan Program

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TechPlan: Transportation Planning and Policy Applications of ITS-Related Technologies is a research, education, and outreach program that addresses the ITS Institute’s high-priority transportation application area of societal issues related to ITS technologies. It is housed at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs’ State and Local Policy Program (SLPP) and funded by SAFETEA-LU, through the ITS Institute at the Center for Transportation Studies.

The overall objective of TechPlan is to investigate and propose policies that will take advantage of the increased presence of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and ITS-related Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in planning of transportation and related infrastructure.  Projects also support the mission and scope of the ITS Institute, which is to “enhance the safety and mobility of road and transit-based transportation through our focus on human-centered technology.”

As of August 2009, the TechPlan program had funded:

• 16 research projects;
• 4 public roundtables;
• Several research presentations; and
• A project website: http://www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/slp/techplan.html

Research  The TechPlan program has funded 3 research cycles.

The first cycle, which were be completed as of December 31, 2008, funded 6 projects:
(Summary Matrix)

1. ITS and Privacy (PI: Frank Douma)
2. ITS and Transportation Safety (PI: Tom Horan)
3. Role of Social Networks and ITS on Destination Choice (PI: David Levinson)
4. Technology and Collaboration in Transportation Policy (PI: John Bryson)
5. Technology in Planning and Participatory Processes (PI: Carissa Schively Slotterback)
6. Transportation Technology and School Travel (PI: Elizabeth Wilson)

The second cycle, which will be completed by early 2010, funded 4 projects:
(Summary Matrix)

1. Comparison of Transportation Policy Implementation (PI: John Bryson)
2. ITS and Transportation Safety – phase 2 (PI: Tom Horan)
3. ITS, E-shopping and travel (PI: Jason Cao)
4. ITS for School Transportation Policy Decision-Making (PI: Elizabeth Wilson)

The third cycle, which will begin in September 2009, funded 6 projects:
(Summary Matrix)

1. Benefit-Cost Analysis of Value Pricing: Case Study for MnPass (PI: Jason Cao)
2. Cross-Sector Collaboration and the Urban Partnership Agreement (PI: John Bryson)
3. Distance-based User Fees as a Replacement for the Gas Tax (PI: Lee Munnich)
4. ITS and Locational Privacy: Suggestions for Peaceful Coexistence (PI: Frank Douma)
5. ITS and Transportation Safety – Phase III (PI: Tom Horan)
6. Understanding Use of Non-motorized Transportation Facilities Through Application of Infrared and Radio-Frequency Technologies (PI: Greg Lindsey)

ITS Institute

The Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Institute is a University Transportation Center (UTC) funded through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century (TEA-21). ITS seeks to advance technology and expertise in the many disciplines that make up transportation through education, research, and technology transfer activities.