In 2010, the Office of Transportation Planning conducted a formal update of the Regional ITS Architectures for all four regions. In order to maintain consistency throughout the Commonwealth, the updates for all four regional ITS architectures occurred simultaneously. The study areas for the four regions remained unchanged. The most significant changes that resulted from the comprehensive review of the 2005 architecture reflect the following:

• Changes to the National ITS Architecture and Turbo Architecture
  Since 2005, the National ITS Architecture has been updated to Version 6.1. This includes changes to existing market packages and information flows, new market packages and information flows, as well as a new version of the Turbo Architecture software (Version 5.0). For example, new market packages that are included in the updated Regional ITS Architectures include the following:
  
  APTS09 - Transit Signal Priority
  APTS10 - Transit Passenger Counting
  MC12 - Infrastructure Monitoring
  
  Further information on the National ITS Architecture and its requirements is available online from the FHWA’s ITS Architecture Implementation Program, which is located at http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/its_arch_imp/index.htm


• The Organization of MassDOT
  In 2009 Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill to create the new Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to oversee the former highway, mass transit, aeronautics, and Registry of Motor Vehicles agencies. Because of the institutional reorganization, many of the elements of the regional architectures have been combined and renamed. For example, the MassHighway Transportation Operations Center (TOC) and the Masspike Operations Control Center (OCC) have been combined and renamed the MassDOT – Highway Division Highway Operations Center (HOC).


• Addition of Stakeholders
  Expanding on the inclusiveness of the original architecture development process, the update process involved inviting additional stakeholders to participate in this effort. For example, MetroWest Regional Transit Authority, which was established in 2006, has been added as a new stakeholder. The support and input of the recently established Regional ITS Planning and Coordination Committees for each region was also solicited. These regional transportation stakeholders were invited to participate by providing input, reviewing documents, and providing guidance on the necessary updates to the architecture.


• Refined Needs
  The Needs Analysis, which identified the ITS-related projects and needs of the operating and planning agencies in the region, was revisited to ensure that the updated architecture would remain consistent with the evolving needs and priorities of the region. Planning documents from the region, including Regional Transportation Plans (RTPs) and Transportation Improvement Programs (TIPs), were reviewed as part of the needs analysis. Further information was obtained through a series of stakeholder meetings with regional transportation stakeholders.


• Additional ITS Information
  Updates to the architecture reflect information gathered from research on documents such as RTPs and TIPs, and stakeholder input on new transportation projects, plans, policies, procedures, and infrastructure implemented since 2005. For example, the I-91 ITS project has installed additional ITS infrastructure in Western Massachusetts. Several additional market packages have also been identified for inclusion to the Regional ITS Architectures, including:
  
  CVO06 - Weigh-In-Motion
  CVO07 - Roadside CVO Safety
  EM05 - Transportation Infrastructure Protection
  
  The stakeholder process was critical for the updates. An initial draft of recommended changes to the architecture was developed based on an updated inventory of ITS elements and from stakeholder input at project meetings. These recommended changes were reviewed at a meeting with regional transportation stakeholders, prompting extensive feedback that was incorporated into a finalized set of recommended updates to the Regional ITS Architecture.


• Updated Website
  This Website has been upgraded to reflect the changes that were identified through the update process. The stakeholders, elements, market packages, information flows, and all associated definitions have been brought up-to-date with the current status of the architectures. In addition, links to the new Final Report have been added for each region.

The Final Report for each region also includes a chapter on an updated Operational Concept for the region reflecting changes in interagency interfaces. The Implementation Plan chapter in each Final Report has also been revised to reflect the current status of planned ITS initiatives. The architecture and the Final Report will continue to serve as an important input into future regional and statewide ITS strategic planning efforts.