History
On Dec. 7, 2001, the Minnesota Guidestar Board, which is Minnesota's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Program, approved development of a multi-state project to coordinate ITS deployments along I-90 and I-94. Guidestar Board members stated they believe that many states are currently developing their rural ITS projects as stand-alone or site-specific systems. However, rural travelers and transportation managers need seamless road information systems with the latest information on weather, road conditions, detours, safety, and security on all routes to make transportation decisions. Several multi-state efforts to coordinate the sharing of data and other ITS resources have been started but no program for corridor-wide coordination of ITS programs and integration of efforts has evolved.
On Feb. 25, 2002, state representatives from Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming met to develop a program that will help the states along the I-90 and I-94 corridors coordinate the development, deployment, and integration of ITS projects. The concept of a multi-state corridor program was discussed and the name North/West Passage Corridor was selected. After the initial kick-off meeting in February, representatives continued to meet as a steering committee to discuss how to develop this multi-state project.
During the May 2002 ITS America Annual Meeting and Exposition in Long Beach, Cali., the North/West Passage Program Steering Committee identified major ITS problems and needs in the North/West Passage Corridor. A number of potential ITS Priority Programs for the North/West Passage Corridor were generated as potential solutions to transportation problems. These projects are shown in the following table.
| North/West Passage Program Development | |
| Problems and Needs | Potential ITS Priority Programs |
|---|---|
| Lack of consistent and adequate traveler information | ATIS including an integrated network of transportation information and 511, along with developing coordination with vehicle manufacturers for telemetrics |
| Weather-related incidents and traffic management | Corridor-wide collection and exchange of weather/pavement conditions data, including predictability and modeling |
| Lack of communications (cell phone coverage in rural areas) | Investigation and development of corridor-wide communication partnerships |
| Inconsistent reliability of CVO information and underutilized freight capacity in rural areas | CVO - traveler information Deploy CVO systems |
| Accidents/Fatalities/Toward Zero Deaths Fatalities | (No specific project, included as part of all programs) |
| Information Exchange | Rural Transportation Operations and Communications Centers |
| Lack of agency and management coordination at borders | Deploy Dynamic Message Systems (DMS) and coordinate across borders |
Representatives from the states agreed it was necessary to move forward from the concept to developing a working coalition. An important issue was identifying which task comes first; development of the North/West Passage Coalition as a working organization or development of projects that the coalition members can begin to implement.
At an Interim Steering Committee meeting on June 13, 2002 various program ideas and funding options for coalition planning were discussed. The committee decided that to move the North/West Passage Corridor Coalition program forward, it would submit a request for pooled funding. Further, Minnesota would take the lead to develop the request and serve as the sponsor agency.
On June 24, 2002, Minnesota contacted each state to solicit commitment and interest in the Pooled Fund Study as part of the North/West Passage Program. Each state was also contacted to provide top priority project ideas for the North/West Passage Program. At the subsequent Interim Steering Committee meeting on Sept. 26, 2002 the group discussed the summary of top priority projects from each state and agreed that each state had a similar focus: to support and coordinate development of corridor-wide integrated traveler information network systems. The committee also reviewed the status of the Pooled Fund Project Solicitation and agreed that more time was needed to receive approval from each state.
On Jan. 1, 2003, Minnesota sent a re-solicitation letter to each of the other seven states. North Dakota and Wisconsin indicated they would participate in the North/West Passage Project Solicitation along with Minnesota. Washington, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and South Dakota all agreed that the North/West Passage was a good project and wanted to remain involved, but their states were unable to participate financially at that time.
At an Interim Steering Committee meeting on Jan. 24, 2003, the group agreed that North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin should proceed with the Pooled Fund Project. Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin agreed to involve the appropriate staff from each state and continue with the North/West Passage Project. As the three states proceeded, meetings were open to all of the states and there has always been an opportunity for the remaining states to join the Pooled Fund Project.
The initial member states - Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin - approved a Work Plan on Dec. 5, 2003 that identified seven projects for Phase 1 of the program. Phase 1 included a series of independent, but closely related projects for integrating traveler information and for coordinating maintenance operations. The projects were concluded in 2005 and the program has moved into Phase 2 of its effort. The Phase 2 Work Plan was developed with input from all eight states along the corridor. The primary focus of Phase 2 was to develop an ITS Integrated Corridor Strategic Plan. The plan was completed in July 2007. Building on several projects recommended in the strategic plan, the Phase 3 Work Plan was developed to continue to develop concepts, expand implementation, and evaluate integrated traveler information systems. In Work Plan 3, member agencies also continued to gain an understanding of a vision for coordinated maintenance operations across state borders. Currently the North/West Passage states are identifying a Work Plan 4. Our work plans can be found on the Work Plan page.