Intelligent Transportation Systems
Intelligent transportation systems are technologies designed to keep Oregon’s road system operating efficiently. Several systems working together at strategic intervals can create system-wide improvements in efficiency and reliability, making trips safer and smoother for drivers. Efficient traffic flow also cuts down on traffic congestion and vehicle idling, which in turn reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Intelligent transportation system technologies fall into two areas: Reactive systems, and travel information.
The first is technology that can react — either autonomously or guided by humans — to current road, weather or traffic conditions. Some examples:
Variable speed limit signs adjust speeds in real time based on weather and road conditions, helping drivers travel more safely and smoothly.
Smart traffic signals at intersections that detect traffic and adjust green light timings to maintain smooth traffic flow. They can also give priority to buses, which helps them run on time.
Interstate and highway ramp metering signals manage how vehicles enter the road, helping maintain smoother traffic flow and reducing congestion.
Highway cameras give Oregon’s transportation dispatchers real time visibility. This allows them to identify incidents quickly and send responders sooner to get traffic moving again.
The other area is technology that helps convey travel information to all road users. This technology helps travelers make informed decisions before their trip or while they’re on the road. Some examples:
Large electronic message signs that can warn drivers of congestion or crashes.
Oregon’s travel information website, TripCheck, shows real-time traffic and road conditions across the state. TripCheck’s data is open and accessible, meaning third parties can build their own tools to use the data.
Oregon’s 511 phone number provides real-time traffic and road conditions across the state.
Humans can help, too. The Oregon Department of Transportation’s incident response teams respond to and quickly clear crashes. ODOT also manages driveway access along busy urban roads to minimize traffic interruptions.
All of these technologies work together to make a system with fewer delays and less idling in traffic congestion, especially for higher emitting long-haul freight trucks. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions for all vehicles.
Intelligent transportation systems: Emissions reduction vision
The Oregon Department of Transportation and local partners will use intelligent transportation systems to improve system reliability and safety.
By 2050, 95% of interstates and highways in urban areas will have ramp metering and incident response management, where conditions require.
By 2050, 95% of surface street systems will have coordinated traffic signal systems, where conditions require.
ODOT and local partners will plan for safe access to residences and businesses along major roads that also prioritize efficient traffic flow.
How Oregon is doing
Recent investments
State and local agencies have been steadily investing in new technology over the last decade to improve the efficiency of the transportation system, and to keep it safe and optimized. More state and local roads have advisory speed signs, smart ramp meters, variable message signs, HOV lanes, and other improvements.
The Oregon Transportation Plan, which sets the state’s long-range transportation policy, also requires new road projects consider things like ramp metering and signal coordination before they consider expanding road capacity.
Grant funding assistance
The federal Carbon Reduction Program, which ran 2021-2026, funded several intelligent transportation system projects that improved system efficiency and reliability. The program also provided funding for road incident response teams. The teams respond to crashes and help clear them quickly and safely, which keeps traffic flowing and protects people involved in crashes. Their work is vital and without the grants, ODOT would have been forced to cut some incident responder positions for their 2025-2027 budget cycle.
How Oregon can improve
Maintaining current infrastructure
The long-term funding outlook for Oregon’s transportation system is uncertain. We’ve made strides in intelligent transportation systems in the last decade but moving forward, ODOT and local agencies will need to prioritize maintaining the systems we have now.
Maintenance of these technologies is more cost effective than expanding roads but still carries a significant expense. As technology like traffic cameras, smart signals and variable speed signs age, they become more expensive to support, less reliable, and less efficient. If we don’t keep up with those needs, we could see more congestion, more vehicle idling and more greenhouse gas emissions.
Seeking a sustainable funding solution
The Oregon Legislature could provide a long-term funding solution for transportation in Oregon that prioritizes maintaining our current systems first and meeting our core needs. If those needs are met, then we could explore expanding intelligent transportation systems. This approach ensures our current systems stay reliable while still allowing Oregon to adopt innovative tools that can improve travel and reduce emissions in the future.
Oregon could expand its highway Traffic Incident Management program to further improve the safety and efficiency of our highways. Strengthening and growing this program would keep traffic moving more smoothly and support cleaner, more reliable travel across the state.
Other actions
State and local agencies can also continue to address driveway access points in locations that are unsafe or cause traffic backups.