Using the Bay Area ITS Architecture for Project Development and Design

The Bay Area ITS Architecture assists in defining high-level requirements in ITS design for specific project development. During project development, stakeholders should incorporate elements of the Architecture, such as roles and responsibilities, standards, and functional requirements in their detailed design documents. This method of defining ITS projects for future deployment is consistent with the National ITS Architecture, it lends credibility to new projects, it limits duplicate efforts by transportation stakeholders, and it supports a uniform regional approach to both the planning and the deployment process. 

For example, if an agency wanted to build a Traffic Operations Center for their signal system incorporating other ITS devices, such as CCTV cameras and electronic signs, the process would proceed as follows (a similar process would be used if a transit system or a traveler information system or any other ITS project were of interest): 

1. Consult the Bay Area ITS Architecture to see if the project had been previously captured in the ITS Project Inventory.
2. If the project has been included, then find the related:
   
• Roles and Responsibilities (for the agencies involved)
• Functional Requirements
• Project Context Diagrams
• Recommended and Appropriate Standards
  
3. Review these items and decide which connection and data exchanges the current project must accommodate.
4. Contact the stakeholders referenced in the diagrams and coordinate the data to be exchanged and the standards to be used as a starting point.
5. Determine whether an agreement is required for the purpose of system integration and data exchange and other relevant terms.
6. If this is a transit project, review Updated Guidance on Implementation of ITS Projects Affected by National ITS Architecture Consistency Policy for Transit Projects and submit required information at Transportation Electronic Award and Management (TEAM) system. Otherwise, review and submit all appropriate material as directed by Chapter 12.6 of the Caltrans Local Assistance Program (LAP) Guidelines. 
7. Follow systems engineering process in project deployment. 
8. Bring the project particulars before the Architecture Maintenance Team for assessment of consistency with the ITS Architecture.