http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification 720 https://escholarship.org/uc/its_path_ccit/rss Recent eScholarship items from California Center for Innovative Transportation (CCIT) Wed, 17 Jun 2026 03:55:59 +0000 https://escholarship.org/uc/item/52m292mq Deploying innovations in transportation products and services to stage 5 of the product development process represents a growing challenge for the Caltrans division ofresearch and innovation.&nbsp; https://escholarship.org/uc/item/52m292mq Wed, 1 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Andrews, Steven Madanat, Samer Ragland, David West, Thomas https://escholarship.org/uc/item/99h759nr Traffic monitoring is most commonly accomplished with government-deployed, dedicated equipment. Adopting new technology in this paradigm can be costly and slow. However, recent advances in the mobile internet, cell phone technology, and location-based services may be leveraged to transcend the old paradigm. Doing so will reduce costs, increase coverage and yield a wealth of new data that will empower the traveling public with real-time access to current traffic conditions. Furthermore, transportation operators will gain access to an unprecedented wealth of information to help them better manage road networks. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/99h759nr Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Bayen, Alexandre M. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8m2970d1 There have been many Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) elements deployed on highways to efficientlymanage traffic, alleviate congestion, and improve safety. However, transportation management agencies are lacking systematic methodologies to identify commuters’ needs and perception regarding ITS elements. In addition, there are few reliable tools and performance measures that can assess the effectiveness of those elements on commuters and travelers. This research project intends to address these problems by analyzing both tangible and intangible benefits of information and control field elements and assessing their overall impact on commuters. The CCIT research team used a commuter survey to measure intangible benefits; and conducted a micro-simulation method to evaluate quantitatively the effectiveness of traffic-information-related field elements such as CMS and 511/HAR. The final outcome of the research will place more emphasis on the effectiveness of ITS field elements... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8m2970d1 Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mortazavi, Ali Pan, Xiaohong Chu, Lianyu Sun, Zhen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6ht400ns <p>PeMS 7.0 is the latest of eight task orders devoted to research, development, andmaintenance of the PeMS system (there was one mid-year task order, PeMS 6.5).PeMS collects, processes, stores, and makes available online data from nine Caltransdistricts (D3-8, 10-12). The data are obtained from 23,871 loops1, grouped into 9,306 vehicle detector stations (VDS). These loops cover 3,495 out of 30,572 directional-miles of interstate and state highways in California. We now describe the accomplishments under the nine tasks that constitute the PeMS 7.0</p><p>project.</p> https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6ht400ns Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Varaiya, Pravin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5xs954m4 Real time traffic information on Changeable Message Signs (CMS) has gained popularity in urban areas where congestion and incidents frequently affect vehicle travel. CMS have been used to broadcast information about corridor downstream delays, traffic incidents and estimated travel times. Displaying accurate travel times on CMS helps commuters assess traffic, alleviates driver's stress, and allows drivers to make better route decisions. Knowing the driving times to popular destinations, travelers may be able to map their driving to the less congested route or chose a different form of transportation. Moreover, signs are the most effective means to communicate real-time, relevant information to motorists. Unlike a radio broadcast, signs target drivers passing a given location. Hence, the message is highly likely to be of interest to those drivers. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5xs954m4 Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mortazavi, Ali Pan, Xiaohong Jin, Euijae https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5vs4x8dv Real time traffic information on Changeable Message Signs (CMS) has gained popularity in urban areas where congestion and incidents frequently affect vehicle travel. CMS have been used to broadcast information about corridor downstream delays, traffic incidents and estimated travel times. Displaying accurate travel times on CMS helps commuters assess traffic, alleviates driver's stress, and allows drivers to make better route decisions. Knowing the driving times to popular destinations, travelers may be able to map their driving to the less congested route or chose a different form of transportation. Moreover, signs are the most effective means to communicate real-time, relevant information to motorists. Unlike a radio broadcast, signs target drivers passing a given location. Hence, the message ishighly likely to be of interest to those drivers. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5vs4x8dv Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mortazavi, Ali https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5nj090ws The Innovative Corridors Initiative represents an innovative business model for public agencies to partner with private industry to improve transportation system management and provide real time information to users. The Call for Submissions (CFS) issued by Caltrans, MTC, LA MTA, ITS America, and CCIToffered private industry access to public rights-of-way and data. However, no funds were offered as part of the CFS, meaning the companies that submitted a proposal and participated needed to have the capacity to self-fund their projects. This report provides a summary of the processes to implement the CFS, including public outreach, proposal review, negotiations between the public agencies and private companies, operations, coordination with the 2005 ITS World Congress in San Francisco, and project closure. Researchers chronicled the lessons learned throughout the process through a series of interviews conducted with the parties involved. Especially important were findings related... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5nj090ws Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Finson, Rachel S. McCormick, Cynthia Shaheen, Susan A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/56q9c13s New requirements to enhance the functionality of the system MITTENS system emerged. As s result, a new version of the software, MITTENS 2.0, was developed during this project. The new system is flexible in using different data sources other than 511 data to calculate travel time. In addition, MITTENS 2.0 is able to handle smart message display by dynamically generating highway travel times, transit times, and destinations. Furthermore, it is capable of comparing transit travel time and highway travel time. This feature enables the system to display the transit travel time when there is an advantage in using trains during peak hours. The objective was to provide comparative information for commuters and encourage motorists to use transit system in the rush hours. The evaluation study on the transit sings showed positive effect of commuter behavior. For this version, the administrator Graphical User Interface (GUI) was deployed and CCIT continued enhancing the GUI. The new enhancements... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/56q9c13s Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Mortazavi, Ali https://escholarship.org/uc/item/524799xg Recent advances in mobile devices and internet technology have led Caltrans to investigate a data collection solution that offers improved data reliability and availability at a significantly lower cost. It has been postulated that information from GPS cell phones could provide position and speed data for highways and arterials in near real time over much of the transportation network. Position and speed data provided by mobile phones or other GPS enabled devices being transported in vehicles is normally referred to as probe data. The Mobile Millennium project was established to determine if the collection and use of probe data for traveler information and traffic management was technically and institutionally feasible in order to provide a more reliable solution to the collection of traffic data. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Nokia Research Center, and NAVTEQ collaborated to design, test, and implement... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/524799xg Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Bayen, Alexander M. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/40v6w8ng PATH Task Order 6328 addresses the optimal deployment of traffic detectors on freeway to ensure that adequate information is collected at the lowest possible cost. The project team produced a study framework and tools that can be applied locally to test the sensitivity of traffic data quality to detectors location and spacing, and ultimately recommend a deployment plan. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/40v6w8ng Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Ban, Xuegang (Jeff) https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3qq0p8bc California law currently allows certain permitted low‐emission vehicles (i.e., hybrids) to use high‐occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of the number of occupants. In September of 2006, the maximum number of permits to be issued was raised from 75,000 to 85,000. The Caltrans analysis after the issuance of 50,000 permits concluded that hybrid vehicles were not causing breakdown on California HOV lanes [1]. However, studies of the effects of hybrid single‐occupancy vehicle use on HOV facilities around the nation indicate that California HOV lanes will become congested eventually, especially if Hybrid vehicle permits continue to be issued after the current cap of 85,000 [2]. Therefore, flow sensors coverage must be adequate to monitor increasing congestion, and assess the wisdom of proposed increases in the permit cap. Moreover, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires that HOV facilities receiving federal funding allow hybrids only if doing so doesn’t degrade the... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3qq0p8bc Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Robinson, Ellen Margulici, J.D. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3q99w7pk In May of 2007, CCIT started Phase 1 of a 3#Phase program aimed at turning the outcomes of “Efficient Deployment of Advanced Public Transit Systems” (EDAPTS) research and development into a readily#available set of resources to help public transit agencies across California implement Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS). Consistent with Caltrans’ Division of Research and Innovation’s (DRI) terminology for research conduct, the program was nicknamed “EDAPTS Stage 5 deployment.” It includes, in phase 3, the commercial deployment of EDAPTS on a public transit property to be determined. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3q99w7pk Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kumar, Manju Singa, Krute https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2r33959s The California Center for Innovative Transportation (CCIT), with sponsorship from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), identified the Caltrans security needs and viable security technologies and best practices to mitigate the potential security risk. The project team created a server for hosting the security forum and security research reports. The access to the server is controlled by a two-level access control for general security documents and security forum respectively. We synthesized some lengthy security reports and posted them to the server. We also presented the project overview, security server and forums to Caltrans, western state Department of Transportation (DOTs), nationwide state DOTs via web-based broadcast (webinar) and at Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) World Congress 2008. Since the objective of this project is to help Caltrans employees keep abreast of the latest security technologies and best practices, the final project report is... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2r33959s Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Chiou, Bensen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2r0685zr The goal of TO 1003 was twofold: to expand awareness and interest in freeway performance measurement among Caltrans planning and operations personnel, as well as build expertise in the use of performance measurement for freeway analysis, system management practices and other planning and operations functions. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2r0685zr Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Alm, Erik Margulici, JD https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2kh944sh It is clear that transportation infrastructure expansion will continue to fall behind the pace of demand. If conditions are to improve, or at least not deteriorate as fast, a new approach to transportation decision making and investing is needed. The Corridor system Management Plan for the Nimitz (I-880) Freeway corridor in the Bay Area is a “first cut” template that integrates the overall concept of system management into Caltrans’ planning and decision-making process. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2kh944sh Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 West, Thomas https://escholarship.org/uc/item/178070g1 <p>The Innovative Corridors Initiative (ICI) Business Model Analysis examines public-private partnerships designed to deploy intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies that can improve transportation system management and provide real-time information to users. This study builds on the business models proposed by industry in response to the ICI Call for Submissions (CFS). 1 In addition, case studies examine the business models that are developing between the private and public sectors for roadside rest stop wireless Internet access, vehicle infrastructure integration, and Traffic.com, Inc. Caltrans’ current procedures for encroachment and procurement are reviewed briefly to identify possible areas of conflict that may need to be resolved prior to launching future CFS-style solicitations. Planning recommendations are provided to assist Caltrans with planning for future CFS-style solicitations, including considerations regarding goals, purpose and project partners, authority,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/178070g1 Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Finson, Rachel S. Lingham, Virginia Shaheen, Susan A. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8zq5c2gc <p>This document summarizes the work carried out by the California Center for InnovativeTransportation (CCIT) for the planning, implementation, and the closing phase of the Travel Time Industry Forum held in San Diego on December 14, 2005. It is broken up into three parts which describe, respectively, the three tasks laid out in CCIT's August 2005 Proposal to the Division of Research and Innovation of Caltrans:</p><p>• Task 1: Programming and coordination• Task 2: Workshop logistics and delivery• Task 3: Analysis and recommendation</p> https://escholarship.org/uc/item/8zq5c2gc Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Margulici, JD Mitman, Xander So, Stella https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7nj655mh Improved real-time automated motorist information around workzones can help relieve congestion and improve safety around those workzones. Several Automated Workzone Information Systems (AWIS) are being deployed around the nation. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) requested that The California Center for Innovative Transportation (CCIT) evaluate the Computerized Highway Information Processing System (CHIPS), which is an AWIS developed by ASTI Transportation Systems. The system is able to detect traffic congestion (using its traffic sensors) in the work zone area and then deliver appropriate messages to motorists (via its port~ble message signs) as they approach or pass through a work zone. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7nj655mh Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Chu,, Lianyu Benouar,, Hamed Recker, Will https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7gf8q75r The Corridor Management Plan Demonstration (CMPD) aims to develop a template for corridor system management plans that can be used for both planning and operational analysis. The primary objective of CMPD is to improve traditional corridor management planning by incorporating detailed, multi-modal performance measurement and evaluation, and innovative micro-simulation modeling techniques. The template willhelp to address the problem of lost system productivity during congestion; it will alsohelp to create effective corridor management plans, thus improving statewide transportation mobility, safety and productivity. CMPD represents the first attempt by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to develop phased and integrated corridor system management strategies by incorporating state-of-the-art operational analysis into more traditional transportation planning processes. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7gf8q75r Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Alm, Eric https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7875869g <p>CCIT Task Order 5, Innovative Transportation Products and Services, was an umbrella TaskOrder under which three independent projects took place. Accordingly, the final report for this Task Orde.r gathers the three project reports.</p><p>The three project reports are as follows:</p><p>• Evaluation of an Incident Detection Camera Network in. the San Francisco Bay Area</p><p>(9 p.)</p><p>• An assessment of the factors influencing the scalability of the Smart ·Parking Field</p><p>Operational Test at Rockridge. BART, conducted by the. systems integrator (25 p.)</p><p>• Evaluation of wireless traffic sensors manufactured by Sensys Networks inc. (121 p.)</p><p>Each report is a stand-alone document .</p> https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7875869g Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Margulici,, JD Chiou, Bensen https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5dc02196 PeMS 6.5 is the latest of seven task orders devoted to research, development, andmaintenance of the PeMS system. While most PeMS research grants coincide with fiscal and academic years (July-June), this project started mid-year in response to a number of feature and maintenance requests (i.e. it was too late for Pe MS 6 and too soon for PeMS 7). PeMS collects, processes, stores, and makes available online data from nine Caltrans districts (03-8, 10-12). The data are obtained from 23,871 loops 1, grouped into 9,306 vehicle detector stations (VDS). These loops cover 3,495 out of 30,572 directional-miles of interstate and state highways in California. We·now describe the accomplishments under the six tasks that constitute the PeMS 6.5 project. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5dc02196 Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Varaiya, Pravin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3rr8z7d5 Real time traffic information on changeable message signs (CMS) has gained popularityin urban areas where congestion and incidents frequently affect the reliability of trip times. Signs have been used to broadcast information about downstream delays, incidents and travel times in a corridor. Under normal conditions, trip time is the most practical information that commuters can use to assess traffic, alleviate their stress, and ultimately make decisions on their route. Being aware of driving times to popular destinations, travelers may be able to choose an alternate route early if it appears that their intended route is too congested. Moreover, signs are the most effective mean to communicate real-time, relevant information to motorists. Unlike a radio broadcast, signs target drivers passing a given location, so that the message is highly likely to be of interest to those drivers. On-demand media such as phone or internet-based services require the user to operate a specific device,... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3rr8z7d5 Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Margulici, JD Chiou, Bensen Yang, Samuel Ban, Jeff Huey, Brian https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3n86j1hk This study focuses on transit initiatives provided by private companies to meet regional commute travel demand. Specifically, the research spotlights privately-­‐provided commuter buses that operate during peak hours and offer customer-­‐oriented routes with limited stops and coach amenities to suburban employment destinations. This type of service differs from those provided by intercity bus companies, including Greyhound, which are primarily intended for destination travel rather than routine commuting. Defined here, privately-­‐provided commuter bus service refers to the private provision of coach service to suburban employment sites from residential areas, service that may or may not be associated with a public transit agency. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/3n86j1hk Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Singa, Krute Margulici, Jean David https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2x45j6dh PeMS 6 is the latest of six task orders devoted to research, development, and maintenance of the PeMS system. PeMS collects, processes, stores, and makes available online data from eight Caltrans districts (D3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12). The data are obtained from 22,067 loops1, grouped into 8,649 vehicle detector stations (VDS). These loops cover 3,154 out of 30,572 directional-miles of interstate and state highways in California. PeMS began as a research project. As the research system evolved, Caltrans determined that the information it provided was very valuable, and additional resources were then directed towards the development of PeMS. Faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate student researchers at U.C. Berkeley (UCB) conduct the research element of the project. Berkeley Transportation Systems (BTS) is responsible for PeMS software developmentand system maintenance. The UCB and BTS groups meet weekly. There are periodicconferences with members of Caltrans Division of Traffic... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2x45j6dh Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Varaiya, Pravin https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2g16f972 For this report data is collected from almost 2,300 miles of the California's most heavilytraveled urban freeways. There are two methodologies for collecting HICOMP data. The most frequently used method resorts to probe vehicles to sample traffic conditions on 'typical' days. The other method is to collect traffic measurements directly from fixed traffic detectors. In 2001, Caltrans Districts 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, and 12 only used probe vehicles, District 7 only used loop detectors, and Districts 8 and 11 used a combination ofboth methods. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/2g16f972 Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Margulici, JD Babiceanu, Simona Huang, Ching-Ling https://escholarship.org/uc/item/278292j9 Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) provide dynamic safety, delay and other information to travelers to help plan their trip (pre-trip) as well as during their trip (on route). The dissemination of traveler information is typically done through internet, cellular phones, telephones, kiosks, television, radio, in-vehicle systems, and fixed road-side ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) elements such aschangeable message signs, highway advisory radio, etc. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/278292j9 Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Kumar, Manju https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1x56g28v Travel times on preset highway itineraries are one of the most tangible outputs of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Travel times constitute an effective metric to describe level of service on roadways. It is a fine indicator of congestion and is well understood by the traveling public. Under this research the current capabilities of Caltrans to collect accurate travel time estimates on the highway network, andto identify the technologies and business models that could most effectively enhance these capabilities were assessed. The results of this report, includes the following elements: A look at the value of travel time information, which is clearly associated with the quality of the underlying data; A survey of technologies available to collect traffic data; A series of systematic studies to characterize the quality of travel time information and evaluate its range;An industry level effort conducted through the North American Traffic WorkingGroup (NATWG) to harmonize... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1x56g28v Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Madanat, Samer https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1449t1qn CCIT Task Order (TO) 10 was awarded primarily to allow the CCIT staff to enhance the operation and upgrade the functionalities of the Berkeley Highway Lab (BHL) during Fiscal Year 2004-2005 (FY 04-05). BHL is a 2.7-mile freeway testbed on Interstate 80 in Berkeley and Emeryville. It features, among other equipment, 168 loop detectors and 8 bird eye’s view video cameras. Applications of BHL include micro- traffic studies, simulation calibration and validation, and field-testing of detection equipment and other hardware. Because of the amount of information available, it is also a good site for any type of ITS or traffic management pilot project. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1449t1qn Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Margulici,, JD Huang,, Ching-Ling Babiceanu,, Simona Merritt, Greg https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0jm505mg Many types of sensors are used in managing transportation systems. These sensors supply criticalinformation used by transportation managers for a variety of purposes such as real-time responseto changes in travel and traffic conditions, or planning for improvements to the transportationsystem. In the absence of well developed methodologies to plan the deployment of these sensors,the processes that are used in selection of their location do not always follow a set of criteria thatoptimize their usefulness. Development of location selection guidelines will assist transportationmanagers in making the most efficient use of these sensors. This is particularly true in ruralareas, given the unique challenges related to topography and remoteness. This report provides anoverview of some of the issues and concerns encountered in locating sensors in rural areas thatare used for assessment of travel conditions, incident detection, incident verification andcollection of planning data. The... https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0jm505mg Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 McGowen, Patrick https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0h76d7vq This purpose of this research would be accomplished by documenting best practices in systems engineering for ITS projects and evaluate the benefit of the recommendedSystems Engineering processes for ITS to other system development processes within the department. During the course of the TO 11 Evaluation project, the project teamconducted extensive communication and coordination with significant stakeholders at all levels, including thirteen Divisions, three Districts, key offices, and individual experts.Over 100 key project development documents were reviewed as well. Findings from the project were presented during followup meetings (including Caltrans Executive Management). The result was the “Systems Engineering Evaluation for ITS Projects” report released June 2006. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0h76d7vq Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Innovative Transportation, California Center for