Smart Highways: Challenges Facing DOT's Intelligent Vehicle Highway Systems Program

GAO discussed the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS) Program, focusing on: (1) DOT obligation of IVHS funds; (2) DOT implementation of IVHS technologies; and (3) issues affecting the attainment of IVHS goals. GAO noted that: (1) IVHS funding has increased significantly since 1991; (2) DOT obligated $272 million for IVHS projects and activities for fiscal years 1992 and 1993, with 59 percent for operational tests of IVHS technologies, 22 percent for basic research, and 10 percent for deployment support projects; (3) some IVHS technologies, such as electronic toll collection and advanced traffic management systems, are already in use while others need further research, development, testing, and technology advances; (4) the attainment of IVHS goals could be affected by the high costs of IVHS technologies, market uncertainties, the development of a system architecture to ensure compatibility among different IVHS technologies, the dissemination of information to users on the benefits of successful IVHS technologies, and concerns about users' privacy; and (5) DOT has established a program office to manage and oversee the IVHS program, but it has not developed a mechanism to share IVHS information.