GAO Notes ‘Limited Success’ Building High-Tech Highways

hile “progress has been made” in easing congestion on U.S. highways through the use of intelligent transportation systems, Department of Transportation initiatives have only had “limited success” when it comes to overcoming the barriers that impede its further use, a new report issued by the Government Accountability Office said.

The GAO report, issued earlier this month, also said the way DOT set and evaluated goals for ITS had a negative effect on the agency’s ability to facilitate ITS investments. It recommended DOT take a different approach.

ITS, in general applies, to the use of technology to improve traffic flow on highway systems. The GAO report looked at several forms of ITS, including video roadway monitoring, traffic signal optimization and electronic toll collection.