SmartTrek was a partnership of twenty public and private organizations that implemented emerging technologies to help improve the performance of the Seattle region’s existing transportation system. This project involved applying a range of different traveler information technologies. The project’s evaluation team determined that the success of the project was due, in part, to involvement of the private sector:

• Encourage private sector involvement. Private sector involvement helps to reduce program risk and support on-time deployment of ITS projects. Benefits of private sector participation in ITS projects include the ability of the project team to take advantage of the unique strengths of the private sector.

The methods used to involve the private sector in SmartTrek were noteworthy. Private sector representatives were included from the project’s inception, were involved in developing the project proposal, and had a role in every aspect of the project’s development. The SmartTrek decision-making structure also included managers from the private sector. The resulting trusting relationships that were developed among the participants during some operational tests and enhanced within the project offered a significant benefit: some decisions about the direction of the project were based on faith in the parties involved.

As an example of the benefits of private sector involvement, a private sector organization was responsible for SmartTrek’s public relations and outreach program. This firm had unique experience and expertise in information dissemination and was able to distribute to a broad and varied audience compelling information about the benefits of ITS to the region. This breadth of experience in marketing and public relations has not been traditionally available to the public sector. Benefits to public sector interests, however, come with the development of opportunities for private sector involvement in ITS.

Although the diverse participants in SmartTrek faced several obstacles, none of them proved to be insurmountable or drastically affected the ITS deployments. The was due in part to the fact that the project team demonstrated flexibility and encouraged private sector involvement in almost all aspects of the project.