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Intelligent Transportation Systems
Joint Program Office

Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Advisory Committee Charter

  1. ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S OFFICIAL DESIGNATION: Intelligent Transportation Systems Program Advisory Committee (ITSPAC).
  2. AUTHORITY: The ITSPAC is established as a statutory committee under the authority of 23 U.S.C. § 515(h)(1) as amended by Sections 13008 and 25001 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Nov. 16, 2021) and renewed in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended, 5 U.S.C. ch. 10.
  3. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES: The Secretary of Transportation, or his or her designee, shall present ITSPAC with tasks on matters relating to the study, development, and implementation of ITS and, in the exercise of his or her discretion, may withdraw a task being considered by ITSPAC at any time. The ITSPAC shall act solely in an advisory capacity to the Secretary. Through the ITS Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), the ITSPAC will make recommendations to the Secretary regarding ITS program needs, objectives, plans, approaches, contents, and progress. The Secretary may accept or reject a recommendation made by ITSPAC and is not bound to pursue any recommendation from ITSPAC.
  4. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
    1. The ITSPAC shall be responsive to specific assignments and may conduct studies, inquiries, and workshops as the Secretary may authorize or direct.
    2. At a minimum, ITSPAC will be expected to:
      1. Provide input into the development of ITS aspects of the transportation research and development 5-year strategic plan under 49 U.S.C. § 6503.
      2. Review, at least annually, areas of ITS research being considered for funding by the Department, to determine:
        1. whether these activities are likely to advance either the ITS state-of-the-practice or state-of-the-art;
        2. whether ITS technologies are likely to be deployed by users, and if not, to determine the barriers to deployment; and,
        3. the appropriate roles for Government and the private sector in investing in the research and technologies being considered.
  5. AGENCY OR FEDERAL OFFICER RECEIVING THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S ADVICE/RECOMMENDATIONS: ITSPAC shall report to the Secretary of Transportation through ITS JPO.
  6. SUPPORT: ITS JPO will serve as the sponsor of ITSPAC and shall provide necessary administrative support.
  7. ESTIMATED ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS AND STAFF YEARS: Operating expenses will be borne by ITS JPO. The estimated annual cost to the Government is $250,000 and 0.2 full-time equivalent staff years.
  8. DESIGNATED FEDERAL OFFICER: DOT shall appoint a full-time or permanent part-time employee to serve as the ITSPAC Designated Federal Officer (DFO) (or designee). The DFO must perform the following duties: ensure advisory committee activities comply with FACA, the FACA Final Rule, agency administrative procedures, and any other applicable laws and regulations; approve or call all meetings of the advisory committee or subcommittee; prepare and approve the agenda (in consultation with the ITSPAC Chair); attend all advisory committee and subcommittee meetings for their duration; fulfill the requirements under § 10(b) of FACA (codified at 5 U.S.C. 1009(b)); adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines it to be in the public interest; chair any meeting when so directed by the Secretary of Transportation; and furnish detailed minutes of each meeting to the ITS JPO Director; maintain information on advisory committee activities and provide such information to the public, as applicable; and ensure advisory committee members and subcommittee members, as applicable, receive the appropriate training (e.g., FACA overview, ethics training) for efficient operation and compliance with FACA and the FACA Final Rule.
  9. ESTIMATED NUMBER AND FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS: ITSPAC will meet no less than two times each year. As necessary, special meetings and subcommittee meetings may be called by the DFO. Unless otherwise required by law or approved by the Secretary, all meetings will be held virtually (or in a hybrid forum that does not require additional use of Federal funds).
  10. DURATION: Continuing, subject to renewal every 2 years.
  11. TERMINATION: This charter shall terminate 2 years after its date of filing unless renewed in accordance with FACA and other applicable requirements.
  12. MEMBERSHIP AND DESIGNATION:
    1. ITSPAC shall comprise not more than 25 individuals appointed by the Secretary of Transportation upon recommendation by the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology or designee. ITSPAC members will serve for up to 3 years, or until replacements have been appointed.
    2. In order to reflect the diverse nature of the ITS program, ITSPAC membership shall comprise individuals representing the categories of organizations listed in subparagraph (c) below. ITS JPO will publish a membership solicitation notice on the Federal Register in accordance with the process established by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) Working Group. In addition, ITS JPO may consult with applicable organizations to determine the appropriate individuals to be recommended. Also, due to the rapid evolution of ITS-related technologies and the emphasis that must be placed on deployment, ITSPAC membership shall reflect experience in and familiarity with future innovations in technology, business development, and strategic planning issues. The ITSPAC membership shall comprise members from among the following categories and be balanced between metropolitan and rural interests:
      1. a representative from a State highway department;
      2. a representative from a local highway department who is not from a metropolitan planning organization;
      3. a representative from a State, local, or regional transit agency;
      4. a representative from a State, local, or regional wildlife, land use, or resource management agency;
      5. a representative from a metropolitan planning organization;
      6. a representative of a national transit association;
      7. a representative of a national, State, or local transportation agency or association;
      8. a private sector user of intelligent transportation system technologies;
      9. a private sector developer of intelligent transportation system technologies, which may include emerging vehicle technologies;
      10. an academic researcher with expertise in computer science or another information science field related to intelligent transportation systems, and who is not an expert on transportation issues;
      11. an academic researcher who is a civil engineer;
      12. an academic researcher who is a social scientist with expertise in transportation issues;
      13. an academic researcher who is a biological or ecological scientist with expertise in transportation issues;
      14. a representative from a nonprofit group representing the intelligent transportation system industry;
      15. a representative from a public interest group concerned with safety;
      16. a representative of a labor organization;
      17. a representative of a mobility-providing entity;
      18. an expert in traffic management;
      19. a representative from a public interest group concerned with the impact of the transportation system on land use and residential patterns;
      20. a representative from a public interest group concerned with the impact of the transportation system on terrestrial and aquatic species and the habitat of those species;
      21. members with expertise in planning, safety, telecommunications, and operations;
      22. an expert in cybersecurity; and
      23. an automobile manufacturer.
    3. Members appointed solely for their expertise will be appointed as Special Government Employees, and members appointed to represent specific stakeholder groups will be appointed as Representative Members.
    4. To the extent practicable, ITSPAC membership will include senior policy-level representatives of their respective organizations. Membership will be fairly balanced in terms of the points of view represented and the functions to be performed.
    5. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson will be appointed by the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.
  13. SUBCOMMITTEES: The Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology has the authority to create subcommittees subject to approval of the Secretary in accordance with the process established in the Department's Committee Management Order. Subcommittees report all of their recommendations and advice to the parent committee and do not provide advice or work products directly to the sponsoring mode or the Secretary.
  14. RECORDKEEPING: The records, reports, minutes, agenda, and other documents made available to or by ITSPAC shall be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2, and other approved agency records disposition schedules. The records shall be made available for public inspection and duplication in ITS JPO at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590, or through the ITSPAC website at http://www.its.dot.gov/itspac.
  15. FILING DATE: The filing date of this renewed charter is December 18, 2025. If not renewed, this charter will expire on December 18, 2027.