Current Federal ITS research programs are capitalizing on successful research initiatives initiated in 2004

Clarus - The Clarus Initiative explored ways to integrate a wide variety of weather observing, forecasting, and data management systems, combined with robust and continuous data quality checking, into systems that could deliver timely, accurate, and reliable weather and road condition information.

Congestion Initiative - The Congestion Initiative program encouraged metropolitan areas to implement the use of four complementary and synergistic strategies that contribute to the relief of urban congestion: Tolling, Transit, Telecommuting, and Technology.

Cooperative Intersection Collision Avoidance Systems (CICAS) - CICAS was a four-year program partnership between the USDOT, automobile manufacturers and State and local departments of transportation to develop vehicle-infrastructure cooperative systems that address intersection crash problems related to stop sign violations, traffic signal violations, stop sign movements and unprotected signalized left turn movements.

Electronic Freight Management - The Electronic Freight Management (EFM) initiative applied Web technologies that improved data and message transmissions between supply chain partners. It promoted and evaluated innovative e-business concepts, enabling process coordination and information sharing for supply chain freight partners through public-private collaboration.

Emergency Transportation Operations (ETO) - The ETO Initiative was a collective effort among Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This collaborative effort encompassed six functional areas: public access to emergency services, enhanced information sharing, evacuation management and operations, transportation operations during biohazard situations, preparedness and response, and planned special events.

Integrated Corridor Management - Through the Integrated Corridor Management Systems initiative, the USDOT provided guidance to assist agencies manage the transportation as a system—rather than the more traditional approach of managing individual assets. Agencies learned how to manage their corridor as an integrated asset in order to improve travel time reliability and predictability, help manage congestion and empower travelers through better information and more choices.

Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS) - Through the Integrated Vehicle-Based Safety Systems (IVBSS) Initiative, the U.S. DOT established a partnership with the automotive and commercial vehicle industries to develop and field test an integrated safety system on light vehicles and commercial trucks.

Mobility Services for All Americans (MSAA) - Many Americans have difficulty accessing some of their basic needs because they must rely on transportation services provided for seniors, persons with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged which are often fragmented, unreliable and inefficiently operated. Lack of coordination is leading obstacle to meeting the mobility needs of the people who need the services most. The goal of the Mobility Services for All Americans (MSAA) initiative was to improve transportation services and simplify access to employment, healthcare, education and other community activities by means of ITS technology.

Rural Safety Initiative - The goal of the Rural Safety Innovation Program was to improve rural road safety by assisting rural communities in addressing highway safety problems, heightening awareness and interest in rural safety issues, and promoting the benefits of rural safety countermeasures that could reduce rural crashes and fatalities.

Vehicle Infrastructure Integration - The Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII)  project is a joint industry-government research program focused on developing standardized wireless vehicular communications for Vehicle- to-Vehicle crash avoidance applications and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure enhanced roadway condition information. In both situations the systems broadcast alerts to inform drivers of potentially dangerous traffic situations.