Abstract:Advanced technologies in transportation are progressing rapidly beyond the stages of research, development, testing, and evaluation. Implementing these technologies will change current business practices in Caltrans. These new technologies will also impact all functions of the organization and challenge paradigms of transportation in ways that may not currently be appreciated. Transportation advances in the past have made fundamental changes in approaches to traffic engineering. For example, early highways did not have exit or entrance ramps. Originally, traffic engineers balked at the idea that entering traffic should achieve the speed of the traffic flow before merging. As understanding of highway driver behavior increased, however, merge lanes were introduced and grew in length.

The understanding, cooperation, and contribution of Caltrans employees is vital to the successful implementation of new technologies. Caltrans, as an organization, must be prepared to address issues that arise as advanced technologies are introduced into highway (urban and rural), rail, and air transportation.

Six objectives have been developed for the curriculum:

• 1. Increase Caltrans employees' understanding of the role of advanced technology in Caltrans and their future.
• 2. Familiarize employees with the capabilities and benefits of advanced transportation technologies.
• 3. Introduce employees to liabilities and risks associated with advanced transportation technologies, both for Caltrans and for system users.
• 4. Provide employees with a basic framework which will allow them to understand the forces at work in the development of advanced transportation technologies in the economy as a whole.
• 5. Suggest new skills necessary to apply advanced transportation technologies to their jobs, which may require additional in-depth courses to accomplish.
• 6. Identify opportunities in managing technological changes and understanding how technology may change the form and function of the Caltrans organization.