摘要: |
This document provides a technical summary for the seven working papers prepared for the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Buffalo and Niagara Falls Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Study. ITS is the use of modern computers and communications to improve traffic and transit system flow and safety. Examples of ITS are advanced traffic control systems to monitor and control flow, and incident detection and management systems to quickly locate and respond to accidents and breakdowns disrupting traffic operations. The main objectives of the ITS Study were to evaluate the transportation needs of the Buffalo/Niagara Falls region: to make an assessment of the ability of ITS to meet these needs; and to develop an ITS implementation strategy. In order to meet these objectives, smaller goals had to be met throughout the study. These goals included: determining existing transportation system deficiencies, identyfying any current ITS systems, developing a critical stakeholder outreach program, determining required user services, researching alternative technologies, developing the system architecture, and finally recommending a strategic ITS plan. The project study area is located at the eastern end of Lake Erie and consists of Erie County, Niagara County, and the Niagara Region of southern Ontario, as shown in Figure 1-1. The major population centers of Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Niagara Falls, Ontario, as well as the towns of Amherst, Tonawanda and Cheektowaga have a population of over 1.9 million people. About 10 million tourists visit the Niagara Falls area annually. |