"Smart Mobility for a 21st Century America" shows why improving efficiency through technology is critical as the population grows, budgets tighten, and consumer preferences shift. The report was authored by Transportation for America, the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, the Association for Commuter Transportation, and the University of Michigan SMART Initiative.

The goal of this report is to help guide Congress, which is expected to move forward on a long-term transportation reauthorization bill in the near future, by making the case for investment in technology and innovation to help solve the nation's most critical transportation problems.

"We have a unique opportunity to shape the direction of transportation policy for years to come, which is why this report is so important," Transportation for America Director James Corless said in a statement. "We can harness technology and tap America's creative potential to get a better bang for our buck and ensure the transportation options Americans rely on are available and affordable in the coming decades."

Studies have shown that intelligent transportation systems are cost effective and quick to deploy, with solutions that can yield a $40 return in time and fuel savings for every $1 invested. The Government Accountability Office found the benefit/cost ratio of a nationwide real-time traffic information system to be 25 to 1.

The report recommends five categories of innovations:

• Making transportation systems more efficient and cost effective;
• Providing more travel options and multimodal connectivity;
• Providing travelers with real-time, accurate transportation system information;
• Making pricing and payments more convenient and efficient; and
• Avoiding unnecessary trips and time wasted in traffic.

"It is critical for the future of our nation's transportation policy to foster projects and programs that collect and disseminate information to the public in a timely and easily accessible fashion," said Association for Commuter Transportation President Brian Shaw. "The result is a transportation system that is safer and provides more options for system users."

The report contains a series of case studies that demonstrate how these technologies have already been applied to real-world transportation challenges and how Congress and the Obama administration should continue to apply them in the future. The recommendations include providing incentives and dedicated funding for states to adopt smart technology solutions, offering competitive grants to stimulate innovation, and having the federal government play a role in disseminating the latest research and best practices.

The 39-page ITSA report is available at bit.ly/101510ITSAreport.