Intelligent Transportation Systems Toolbox Offers Solutions to Designers

Item #: 20250071

CONTACTS

Implementing Organization: Traffic Management Division
Implementation Lead: Andrea Guevara
Development Team: Tyler Laing, Matt Luker, Andrea Guevara, Josh Boudrero, Brad Cameron, Catherine Jones, Troy Torgerson, Glenn Burns

Article Written By: Andrea Guevara
Innovation Council Liaison: Glenn Burns
Innovation Team Coordinator: Quinten Klingonsmith

STATUS

Implementation Date: July 23, 2025
Adoption Status: Fully Implemented
Adoptability Note: Do you have a transportation design challenge? Check out the ITS Toolbox for solutions.

APPLIES TO

Topic: Communication
Organization(s): UDOT (all), Aeronautics, Central Admin / Senior Leaders, Central Construction, Central Preconstruction, Data Technology & Analytics, Employee Development, Environmental Division, Motor Carrier Division, Performance and Asset Management, Planning, Railroad, Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4, Research and Innovation, Right of Way, Risk Management, Strategic Technologies, Structures, Traffic and Safety, Traffic Management Division, Transit and Trails
Job Role(s): Administrative Staff / Commissions, Construction Engineer, Executive Leadership, Information Specialist, Mechanics / Equipment, Program Director, Program Manager, Program Specialist
Tags: active transportation, highway transportation, public transit, railroad transportation, labor productivity, employee empowerment, job satisfaction, personnel development, economic benefits, expenses, expenditures, value of life, value of time, education and training, standardization, communications > public relations ( PR ), education and training ( employee development ), information technology >> software, networks, marketing > advertising, ( data visualization ), intelligent transport systems ( ITS ), civil engineering, design, highway operations, ( traffic operations ), planning, program management, project management, research, traffic safety > highway safety, trucking safety, ITS, toolbox, intelligent transportation systems, quality of life

PROBLEM

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), such as wrong-way detection, road weather information systems, variable message signs, ramp meters, etc., help manage traffic and increase the safety of Utah’s roadways. It is difficult for design engineers to keep up with rapid advancements in ITS technology and the options available to address safety and mobility challenges. UDOT needed a way to help designers find ITS solutions.

CHANGE

The Traffic Management Division (TMD) created the ITS Toolbox website to provide UDOT, municipal, and consultant designers with a resource to easily identify and design ITS elements into their projects, ultimately leading to more effective and integrated solutions.

The ITS Toolbox is organized into 18 common challenges faced by designers. Some of these challenges include congestion management, providing traveler information, detour routing, and accommodating special events. See the Roadway Challenges screenshot below for a complete list.

Clicking on a roadway challenge takes users to a menu of ITS technologies that address the challenge. See the Traveler Information screenshot for an example.

Designers can then click through the different ITS devices for more information about how each one addresses the challenge. See the Road Weather Information System page screenshots shown below.

Designers can also jump directly to a menu of ten ITS Devices, see below.

RESULT

Implementing ITS properly can save Utah drivers collectively thousands, possibly millions of dollars in fuel and time. For example, informing the travelling public of known roadway issues can help them avoid delays, reducing travel time. More importantly, ITS solutions, such as wrong-way driver detection, can make our roads safer, saving lives.

Next Steps: The UDOT Operations team is introducing the Operations Readiness program, which is significantly supported by the ITS Toolbox. This tool will benefit all regions, projects, and individuals involved in designing, building, and managing State roadways. It also provides a valuable avenue for the Traffic Management Division (TMD) to collaborate with other departments and offer solutions.