Metro Board of Directors
Planning and Programming Committee
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Attention: Ernest Morales, Deputy Executive Officer
Re: RIITS Funding

Dear Committee Members:
It has come to my attention that Metro's RIITS program is currently unfunded for FY 2008. I'm writing in support of amending the Metro FY 2008 budget to include full requested financial support for the program.

RIITS may seem obscure but it is a critical component to providing traveler information to the commuting public. RIITS sits in the background providing traffic data to the services that provide millions of LA drivers with Los Angeles traffic information on radio, TV, internet traffic maps, GPS navigators, cell phone applications, TrafficGauge's handheld and others.

My company, TrafficGauge, is one small user of the data however we have many thoughts about traffic data based upon daily reports from your constituents, the Los Angeles driving public. None of the feedback supports a reduction in ITS, but rather demonstrates a need for better commuter traffic information. Currently, RIITS plays a critical role as the data aggregator with the exception of occasional down time due to a maintenance contract that does not cover the 24/7 hours that the freeways operate.

The RIITS component that is in serious need of repair and enhancement is the speed data collected on the roadway. The only source of data is from the Caltrans loop sensors where it is typical to have only 50% of loops on a corridor reporting due to failed technology, compared to Seattle traffic information which is about 98% operational. This loop data feeds into RIITS for distribution to public and private agencies. Thus, we further request that funds be added for maintenance and operations of Caltrans speed data network to support the foundational underpinnings of the new 511 system, and to provide Los Angeles drivers with accurate Los Angeles traffic data for all to smartly use.

Technology continues to impress and change peoples lives and this cannot be truer than with traffic information. TrafficGauge has been providing traffic flow data to in-car drivers in LA for three years. We invented a technology that has started to be replicated by many much larger companies primarily in the area of GPS navigator from the likes of Garmin, Magellan and TomTom, as wells as internet portals like Google and Yahoo with their traffic maps for PC and cell phones. What is unique about TrafficGauge is that our 800 telephone number is on our product. Thus, as one can imagine, we receive calls daily from many Angelinos reporting their problems with portions of the Caltrans traffic information. In fact, we have spoken to well over 20,000 LA residents. They want better traffic flow data, they want gaps in the system addressed immediately, and they want a point of contact at Caltrans and/or Metro so that they can directly report their views. Who should they call so they are heard and so you know the value of RIITS?

The reason that the traveling public cares so much about quality traffic information is simple. Our customers report saving an average of 9 hours per month in drive time by using the fifty-dollar TrafficGauge handheld product in their vehicle. In the transportation industry, this is an enormous user benefit suggesting significant infrastructure efficiency improvements through adequately informing the public. Users save time by taking alternative routes, time shifting trips, and adjusting schedules. We are a small company and we have tens of thousands of customers that would like to share their thoughts on improvement, not turning the switch off.

By far, the RIITS and ITS initiatives are the least expensive and most productive tools at Metro's disposal to keep Angelinos moving and keep the economy rolling. Maintaining RIITS and improving the inadequate loop performance surely will address congestion management. Please continue to support RIITS and fund sensors repairs and deployments.

Best Regards,
Ryan Peterson
Founder / CEO

cc: Roger Snoble, Chief Executive Officer
Carol Inge, Chief Planning Officer
Peter Liu, RIITS Program Manager