This section outlines Virginia's strategic approach to implementing ITS/CVO. It includes:

• The Mission Statement identifies the purpose of the CVO program.

• The Driving Forces are key environmental factors that influence the nature of the plan and the rate at which the plan is implemented.

• The Goals are the achievements toward which the ITS/CVO program is directed.

• The Objectives are the means of achieving the goals. In this plan, they are the specific projects or initiatives identified in the program plan.

• The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats represent the opportunities that can be taken advantage of when implementing the plan and the threats to be mitigated. Specific projects or initiatives have been identified in the program to address opportunities and threats.

• The Guiding Principles are statements of the values that Virginia embraces that guide the implementation of projects and initiatives.

• Vision provides a real-world description of how day-to-day operations will be different in ten years, once the plan has been implemented.

Exhibit 7 provides a schematic view of how these elements fit together in the overall business plan. Each of the elements is presented and described below.

4.1 Mission Statement
Virginia has adopted a mission statement for the entire CVO program that guides all CVO activities. It embodies the state's commitment to customer service, economic development, and private sector involvement.

CVO Mission Statement
By partnering with the commercial vehicle community, our mission is to ensure the safe, legal, and efficient movement of goods and people through the innovative application of technology, services, and resources.

The ITS/CVO program is considered one of the key approaches adopted by Virginia to meet the CVO mission statement.

4.2 Driving Forces
The Virginia ITS/CVO plan is influenced by factors outside the direct influence of the state and other stakeholders. At play are changes in the socio-political climate, the economy, and in technology, all of which can have profound effects on the CVO industry and its regulation. The most significant external factors are termed driving forces because they determine the rate which the program is implemented, the types of projects pursued, and the technologies used.

EXHIBIT 7: ELEMENTS OF ITS/CVO BUSINESS PLAN

Because driving forces are critical to meeting the ITS/CVO plan goals, part of the business planning process included an exercise to help identify these factors. The three driving forces identified as most critical to the ITS/CVO program are:

• availability of funding from state, federal and non-traditional sources

• degree of institutional harmony, and the extent to which the stakeholders share common goals and vision for ITS/CVO

• technological change to make ITS/CVO more user-friendly and inexpensive.

Although the Commonwealth of Virginia does not have direct control over these three factors, it can influence them. Two program areas were added to this plan specifically to address the driving forces: Institutional Strengthening and Funding Approach. The activities in these program areas are aimed at maintaining good stakeholder relationships and ensuring that an appropriate level of funding is targeted towards the program. The technological issues are addressed via projects dispersed throughout the various program areas in the plan. For example, as a CVISN prototype state, Virginia is influencing the development of national standards.

The results of the "driving forces" exercise are presented in the Appendix.

4.3 Guiding Principles
When implementing Virginia's program for ITS/CVO, projects will be developed with guiding principles in mind. These comprise the following actions:

• Emphasize safety. Safety is and must remain the primary concern of providers of transportation services. Reduction in the number and severity of crashes is the highest priority in the deployment of ITS/CVO services.

• Emphasize efficiency. Greater efficiency in the movement of goods and people will result in savings in time, money, and effort on the part of surface transportation providers and the customers that rely upon these services.

• Utilize "best" business practices. As opportunities for transportation improvements arise, attention should be directed toward practical solutions. The application of technology should be used to address specific transportation concerns. An investment in technology should only be made when there is reasonable assurance that it will help improve freight and passenger safety and mobility.

• Involve stakeholders. The administration of commercial vehicle operations is complex. To help insure success, cooperation among the individual stakeholders is critical when addressing issues in which they may be impacted. Many ITS strategies provide opportunities for involving CVO stakeholders.

• Maintain leadership position. Virginia has risen to a prominent leadership position through its active participation in organizations and initiatives that address CVO. Given this role, Virginia has assumed certain responsibilities as well as opportunities to help shape the future direction of CVO throughout the region and nation. Support should be directed to all activities that will help Virginia maintain its leadership position.

• Seek intermodal strategies. The development of strategies that enhance connectivity to increase efficiency among freight haulers, surface transportation providers, ports, and airports is of critical significance. Seamless connectivity among modes will provide greater efficiency in the movement of both goods and people.

• Provide superior service. As a nation and as individuals, we rely on transportation providers for the safe delivery of people, goods, and services. As public agencies, we have a responsibility to provide the best possible service to our customers. The application of ITS to CVO will allow transportation providers to deliver services in a more safe, efficient, and effective manner.

• Utilize research.Technology is being developed and incorporated into commercial vehicle operations at a rapid pace. Research should be encouraged and utilized in order to ensure that Virginia's technology needs, with respect to CVO, are being adequately met.