Portland receives intelligent transportation award

Portland's transportation leaders received a pat on the back Tuesday from the Intelligent Transportation Society of America for its efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through transportation planning planning.

The City of Portland worked with The Climate Trust, DKS Associates and Kittelson & Associates to use technology to optimize the timing of traffic signals and to alert drivers about accidents and alternative routes to reduce congestion, travel time and carbon emissions. City officials also deployed a truck signal priority program to improve the movement of freight.

In giving the award Scott Belcher, ITS America CEO said in a statement that Portland's efforts have "eliminated more than 157,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions in just six years -- the equivalent of removing 30,000 passenger vehicles from the road for an entire year."

The news comes as a counterpoint to research published earlier this year that said Portland had the 16th worst traffic in the United States.