Abstract
This paper examines the relationship between public and private investments in intelligent transportation system (ITS) technology and the effects on transportation performance through the highway system. ITS technology is an infrastructure that promotes integrated information sharing that can be used to improve system performance. ITS combines better infrastructure with information and control technologies to (a) reduce traffic congestion by maintaining traffic flow, (b) reduce transportation-generated pollution, (c) improve transport efficiency, and (d) produce economic benefits. A statistical analysis of partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to test three hypothesized relationships. Primary data were collected from U.S.-based commercial vehicle transportation service providers. Respondents were parceled with a geographic information system analysis of secondary data from the U.S. Department of Transportation National ITS Deployment Tracking Survey. On the basis of their level of regional ITS experience, primary data respondents were matched to regions and split between regions with low ITS experience and high ITS experience as a proxy for regional public investments in ITS. Performance measures were based on efficiency, reliability, responsiveness, quality, carbon emissions reduction, and equipment utilization for commercial vehicle operators. Results indicate that private investments in ITS significantly positively affect the responsiveness performance measure for commercial vehicle operators in regions with high public ITS investments. The same relationship is not significant in regions with low public ITS investments, which indicates at least some transportation performance improvements for regions with higher investments in ITS. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
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