Regional Intelligent Transportation Systems Architecture

As the population in the CHATS area continues to grow rapidly, traffic congestion has also continued to increase. According to a 2015 analysis by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Charleston residents spent, on average, five more hours waiting in traffic each year compared to residents in other, similarly-sized regions. This was despite the fact that the typical Charleston resident traveled 20 fewer miles each year on arterials and freeways. This congestion has contributed to higher Travel Time Index and Commuter Stress Index ratings compared to peer regions, and it costs the Charleston region an estimated $470 million annually in lost productivity and wasted fuel.

Because our region has learned that we can’t build our way out of congestion, we are turning to technology-based solutions for improving our transportation network. Our region’s first Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Architecture & Deployment Guide will lay out how we can implement technology-based solutions for improving travel time reliability and safety in an organized, coordinated, and cost-efficient manner among all jurisdictions within the CHATS boundary. The project scope consists of the following seven tasks:

1. Collect a baseline inventory of existing ITS-related technology, agreements, and resources
2. Identify gaps in the region’s existing ITS-related technology, agreements, and resources
3. Develop a web-based “architecture” that illustrates the interconnected nature of existing ITS-related technology, agreements, and resources
4. Establish a regional vision and goals
5. Analyze best practices to address gaps
6. Create a draft list of ITS-related projects
7. Identify high-priority ITS-related projects for near-term implementation

Stakeholder Workshops

• Workshop #1 – July 26, 2022 (5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston, SC)
• Workshop #2 – October 4, 2022 (5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston, SC)
• Workshop #3 – May 15, 2023 (5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston, SC), 1-3 PM, Open House

CHATS ITS Committee Meetings

• Core Team Meeting #1 – June 15, 2022 (5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston, SC)
• Core Team Meeting #2 – August 29, 2022 (5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston, SC)
• Core Team Meeting #3 – December 12, 2022 (5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston, SC)
• Core Team Meeting #4 – February 24, 2022 (5790 Casper Padgett Way, North Charleston, SC)