Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee ITS priority corridor program plan

The United States Department of Transportation has designated the Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee (GCM) Corridor as one of the four highest priority ITS corridors in the country. Located in the heart of the Midwest, the Corridor is a natural conduit to one of the most active trading areas in the country. Truck traffic streams in from the automotive regions to the east and south, and from the agricultural regions to the north and west. This traffic, combined with the local commuter and commercial traffic, is causing congestion on almost every major roadway. The States of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin have formed a consortium to address the problems within the Corridor. It is their intent to enhance transportation efficiency, improve safety and reduce emissions in the Corridor by means of a cooperative effort. BRW is leading this effort, working closely with the Consortium members to conduct the Corridor Program Plan (CPP). The CPP establishes a framework whereby the Corridor can take advantage of ITS technologies and establish an open architecture, enabling the Corridor to serve as a testbed for future ITS developments. The complexity of the travel types, facilities and modes of the region are matched only by the area=s jurisdictional and political complexities. The three state Departments of Transportation have agreed to cooperate on the Corridor Initiative but they only represent one part of the transportation environment. Municipal, county and regional authorities also represent a major portion of the Corridor, creating a very interactive and challenging situation.