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<br />Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is an approach taken by many transportation systems to <br />use the latest technology for building better transportation systems. Information technologies and <br />advances in electronics are revolutionizing many aspects of modem society and transportation is <br />no exception. <br /> <br />Throughout Minnesota a number of ITS initiatives have been developed through MnlDOT's <br />Guidestar program which is one of the nation's leaders in using ITS to build a better <br />transportation system. In the Northstar Corridor current ITS initiatives range from interactive <br />kiosks at the Highway 10 Travel Information Center in St. Cloud to the Twin Cities' Traffic <br />Management and Traveler Information Systems operated by MnlDOT. <br /> <br />Two ITS initiatives are currently underway. The first ITS initiative is the Connecting Minnesota <br />Project which is a statewide initiative that is laying fiber-optic cable along 900 freeway miles <br />that will result in a high-speed/high-capacity telecommunications network. The Connecting <br />Minnesota Project is a public/private collaboration involving MnlDOT and will provide a <br />communications backbone for many ITS initiatives. <br /> <br />Construction of the network began in the Fall of 1999 along Interstate 94, between Moorhead <br />and St. Cloud. The entire network is expected to be completed by mid - 2001. In the Northstar <br />Corridor, fiber optic will be laid along Highway 10 from Rice to Highway 25 at Big Lake, then <br />proceed south to Interstate 94. <br /> <br />The second ITS initiative underway in the Northstar Corridor is the development of a permanent <br />facility that will involve multiple agencies for the purpose of coordinating transportation <br />management and distributing traveler information. This is part of a Mn/DOT program to <br />develop Transportation Operations Centers (TOe's) throughout the State. In February, 1998, <br />Mn/DOT completed the St. Cloud Transportation Operations Center Scoping Study that outlined <br />a conceptual framework for implementing selected ITS systems in the St. Cloud area, (including <br />Highway 10/47 to Hennepin County). <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Following are proposed ITS initiatives to be included as part of the TSM Alternative for the <br />Northstar Corridor. <br /> <br />Traveler Information <br /> <br />Providing up-to-the minute and accurate information to travelers is an important element of any <br />ITS program. For the TSM Alternative the following elements have been proposed for the <br />Northstar Corridor: <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Phase II Northstar Corridor Major Investment Study <br />Draft - TSM Alternative <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />June 24, 1999 <br />