Breaking down data silos between ITS platforms isn’t just about improving efficiency – it’s a matter of life and death. Kirk Steudle argues for strategically deploying the right technologies to create seamless connectivity across jurisdictions
In my last column, I highlighted the importance of making data shareable across ITS platforms. This connectivity is critical, especially for the future of mobility. Infrastructure owners and operators (IOOs) are aware that not having access to relevant data can have lasting consequences for infrastructure decisions and investments. Imagine this on a larger state level scale. Fortunately, the principles of resolving many of these connectivity issues at the local level can be applied at the state level. It comes down to building a strategy for deploying the right technologies, at the right time, in the right place.
Across North America, transportation agencies and IOOs have invested in and deployed a wide variety of ITS technologies and communications platforms. However, these systems often operate in data silos, limiting their potential benefits. The connectivity and data sharing barrier that this creates can have a cascading effect on larger scale infrastructure and technology decisions. To unlock the true potential from these various systems, we must assess the current state of deployed tech and connect them across platforms and jurisdictions. This is especially important as it relates to roadway safety.
Connectivity is not just a technology imperative. It’s a safety imperative. When systems can communicate across city and even state lines, real-time data can be shared to prevent collisions, inform drivers of hazards, and optimize emergency response. An example is from last year when a severe snowstorm on February 29 hit the Sierra Mountains near Lake Tahoe, California. A day later, the whiteout conditions finally forced a 100 mile closure of Interstate 80 (I-80) between Colfax, California and Reno, Nevada. Unfortunately, 100s of motorists ended up stranded in life threatening conditions before the I-80 closure. Many were stranded for days. While this situation could’ve been worse, it highlights the safety imperative for better connection between jurisdictions and tech.
“Connectivity is not just a technology imperative. It’s a safety imperative”
As you may know, the I-80 integrated corridor mobility project is deploying connected vehicle infrastructure and data-sharing platforms on a national multijurisdictional scale. By aligning local deployments with state-level strategies, the project looks to create a seamlessly connected 2,900-mile roadway. However, this requires a comprehensive assessment of currently deployed technologies and systems to determine how best to connect them. It demands deploying the right tech, at the right time, and in the right places.
Once systems are connected and safety is ensured, operational efficiencies will naturally follow through better coordination, predictive analytics, and more informed decision-making. Moreover, this approach fosters robust public-private partnerships. Technology providers and IOOs can collaborate to deliver the most appropriate solutions that will best connect with neighboring jurisdictions. These partnerships thrive when there is a clear framework for interoperability and scalability. Ultimately, this enhances safety and supports future mobility applications that can help mitigate or prevent the risks of future hazards.
Kirk Steudle, national transportation advisor with Steudle Executive Group, and former director of Michigan DOT
This article first appeared in the Nov/Dec 2025 edition of TTi magazine
