Houston Priority Corridor: A Multi-agency Plan

A diverse set of innovative Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications is being implemented as part of the Houston ITS Priority Corridor Plan. The plan involves six local agencies deploying 26 projects ranging across many of the ITS user servIces. The U.S. Department of Transportation in 1993 designated Houston as one of four ITS Priority Corridors. The intent of the Priority Corridor Program is to showcase ITS and provide test beds for demonstrating and evaluating ITS concepts and technologies. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) entered into an ITS Partnership Agreement which established and funded the Houston ITS Priority Corridor Program. In addition to establishing the framework for program development and administration, it also recognized the importance of involvement of other local implementing agencies in development of the program. TxDOT, METRO, Harris County, and the City of Houston entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to manage and implement the Houston ITS Priority Corridor Program. One of the FHW A requirements of the program was that each of the designated corridors was to develop an ITS Priority Corridor Program Plan to identify projects, priorities, schedules, and estimated funding requirements. The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) was selected to assist TxDOT and the local agencies in developing the plan.