Regional Transportation Data Network
The Tucson metropolitan area has made significant investments in important communications infrastructure to support various critical systems. Traffic operations, law enforcement, emergency responders, and public safety depend on a robust and solid communications infrastructure for day-to-day operations.
The Regional Transportation Data Network (RTDN) will provide the needed communications infratstructure and links among agencies in the Tucson metropolitan area to enable them to share real-time data and information, expand the network to include additional stakeholder agencies, and ultimately enhance the region's ability to provide accurate, timely and comprehensive travel information to the public. The RTDN plan will provide the City of Tucson and its project partners with a roadmap to link up critical agency systems, as well as indentify where additional communications infrastructure is needed.
Stakeholders in the region recognize that integrating the various agency systems is essential for safe and efficient operations of the transportation network. As the region grows and more demands are placed on the transportation system, there is an even stronger need to enable systems and networks to work together to meet the safety and mobility needs of travelers and emergency responders.
In 2005, the City of Tucson applied for and received a $3M Federal Highway Administration (FHA) earmark to begin plannig and developing a regional, integrated communications network as well as expand the existing communications capabilities. The City of Tucson is taking the lead with this effor and anticipates creation of a technical oversight group to provide guidance, direction and review recommendations from the RTDN planning tasks. This group will be comprised of representatives from key stakeholder agencies in the region.
Vision for the RTDN
The need for a robust regional communications network was identified several years ago during the development of the PAG ITS Strategic Deployment Plan. One of the key goals that emerged from that plan was to be able to integrate systems that various stakeholder agencies were to deploy. Effective operations of a regional transportation network depends on the ability of partners to be able to coordinate and integrate systems.
The primary focus of the RTDN is to provide the communications backbone to support mult-agency operations. Transportation and emergency services are high priority stakeholders for this network, but agencies in the region recognize that the RTDN can provide a significant benefit for other departments and functions, including Public Works, Homeland Security, Transit, and Human Services.
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