The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) announces the finalists for the 2008 Best of ITS Awards.

Presented by ITS America, the Best of ITS Awards is the only program in the world that honors the most innovative, effective, and influential achievements in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industry. This highly competitive program recognizes the organizations whose projects have demonstrated specific and measurable outcomes and exemplified innovation by establishing a "new dimension" of performance.

The finalists were selected from among more than 40 entries by an expert panel of judges. The categories and finalists are:

Best New Innovative Product or Service:

• IdaTech - iGen Power System

• CalTrans - Sensys Wireless Vehicle Detection System

• CalTrans District 7 - Route 210 Conjestion Relief Project

• Florida DOT - iVEDDS: Inter-Agency Video and Event Data Distribution System

• CATT at the University of Maryland - Operations Academy Senior Management

• Kapsch - Multiband Configurable Networking Unit (MCNU)

• Nissan North America - Nissan Safety Shield 2007

• Visteon Corporation - The Visteon Light Vehicle Integrated Vehicle Based Safety System

• MTC and SAIC - San Francisco Bay Area 511

• San Diego Association of Governments/ California DOT - San Diego Region's 511 Advanced Traveler Information System

Best New Innovative Practices:

• New York City DOT - The Applied Solid-state Traffic Controller

• CalTrans - The VII California Program

• CalTrans - Infotek Demonstration Project

• Kapsch - ITS World Congress 2008 VII Partnership

• NAVTEQ - NAVTEQ- Missouri DOT Advanced Traveler Information Services Project

• Utah DOT - Partnership with Utah's Telecommunications Companies

• BMW of North America - The Next Generation Telematics Protocol (NGTP)

• Delcan - Lake County Passage Project

• Telegra Inc - Fuel Cell-Powered Trailer-Mounted LED Signs

• Michigan DOT- MDOT VII Model Deployment

• CalTrans District 7 - District 7 Adaptive Traffic Signal Project

• Mississippi DOT - Reconnecting Mississippi's Coastal Communities Through ITS

• Western Transportation Institute at Montana State University- Partnerships for Deploying Animal Vehicle Crash Mitigation Strategies

• CalTrans - Mobile Century: A Novel Approach to Traffic Data Collection from GPS-Equipped Mobile Phones

• ITS Midwest - Safety Assistance for Freeway Emergencies Patrol

• CalTrans District 4 - Commuter Travel Time Information System

Outstanding ITS America State Chapter:

• ITS Florida

• ITS Georgia

• ITS Minnesota

• ITS Virginia

Awards will be presented in each category on Monday, Nov. 17 in a special ceremony during at ITS America's 2008 Annual Meeting & Exposition held in conjunction with the 15th World Congress on ITS in New York City.

More information on the award programs and ITS America's 2008 Annual Meeting & Exposition and the 15th World Congress on ITS is available at www.itsa.org.

About the Intelligent Transportation Society of America:

The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) is the leading advocate for ITS development and deployment in the United States. ITS America was established in 1991 as a not-for-profit organization to foster the use of advanced technologies in surface transportation systems. Members include corporations, public interest groups, universities and research laboratories, and government agencies at all levels. ITS America works closely with the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of the National ITS Program and serves as an invaluable resource to its members in the areas of technology, domestic public policy, international relations, and business development. For more information, visit www.itsa.org.

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