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Cisco for Roadways

Modernizing Urban Transportation Networks

A Strategy for Building Safer, More Equitable, and Resilient Mobility Networks

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Urban Transportation Systems Under Pressure

Urban transportation networks are entering a period of rapid transformation. Accelerating urbanization is intensifying congestion; new connected and multimodal mobility models are reshaping infrastructure demands, and the convergence of physical and digital systems is increasing exposure to safety and cybersecurity risks. Together, these forces are raising the bar for how cities move people and goods safely, efficiently, sustainably, and equitably. 

Three Trends Reshaping Urban Transportation

  • Migration continues to surge as citizens seek hybrid work benefits and urban cultural activities

    Urban Center Expansion

    60%

    of world population in cities by 2030 (1)

    $74B

    Annual U.S. congestion cost in 2024
    (43 hours lost per driver annually) (2)

    70%

    of greenhouse gas emissions come from cities (3)

    Increased Strain on Public Transport

    2x

    Demand for public transport by 2050 (OECD) (1)

    8%

    dropped in telecommuting in the US with largest drop in city like San Jose 30% or San Francisco 24% (2)

    Accelerating urban migration—projected to push 60% of the global population into cities by 2030(1) —and sudden visitor surges from major public events are placing greater strain on urban transit networks. U.S. drivers lost an average of 43 hours to congestion in 2024(2), at an aggregate annual cost of $74 billion. 

    These demands will continue to grow. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) projects that demand for public transport will double by 2050(1), requiring transportation systems to move more people while reducing the environmental impact — often on infrastructure that was not designed for either challenge.

    1. McKinsey & Company – Government can deliver exceptional customer experiences (2023), Getting beyond the gridlock in cities (2019), “smart Roads: Paving the path to a digital Future” 

    2. INRX 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard

    3. NOAA’s National centers for environmental information 2024 billion-dollars disaster analysis

  • Urban population increasingly embrace eDelivery, multi-model rideshare, and autonomous vehicles

    Increased Connectivity

    $73B

    IoT devices to be active by 2027, demanding innovative management tech (1)

    New Mobility Paradigms

    25%

    of passenger miles done with AVs by 2030, delivering $800B+ in annual public benefit (1)

    $1T

    Shared mobility spending forecasted by 2030 (1)

    39%

    federal gas tax projected to drop by 2035 (2)

    The rapid adoption of multimodal transit, e-commerce, connected devices, and new mobility services is changing both how people and goods move through cities and what an urban transportation infrastructure must handle. As more vehicles, devices, and transportation systems become connected, agencies need the infrastructure to securely connect, manage, and exchange data across a growing transportation ecosystem.

    The scale of that shift is significant. An estimated 73 billion IoT devices are projected to be active by 2027, while autonomous fleets could account for 25% of passenger miles by 2030(1). These emerging mobility models could deliver substantial economic value while helping municipalities reduce congestion and emissions.

    But the transition also has financial implications. As fleet electrification and automated mobility reduce reliance on traditionally fueled private vehicles, transportation funding tied to fuel consumption will come under increasing pressure. Federal gas tax revenues are projected to fall 39% by 2035, creating greater urgency for alternative infrastructure funding models(2).

    1. McKinsey & Company – Government can deliver exceptional customer experiences (2023), Getting beyond the gridlock in cities (2019), “smart Roads: Paving the path to a digital Future” 

    2. Deloitte - Transportation Trends

  • Demand for secure physical and digital environments across all transport modes

    Aging Infrastructure

    39%

    of major US roads are rated poor or mediocre by ASCE

    $800B

    NHTSA estimates of annual costs of roadway accidents to communities including 40K fatalities per year

    Increased Strain on Public Transport

    $182B

    NOAA disaster estimates for 2024 weather and climate events ($396B in 2017)(2)

    Cybersecurity Threats

    175%

    Increase in phishing in transportation between 2023-2024(3)

    Transportation networks are facing compounding risks from deteriorating physical infrastructure, severe climate disruptions, and AI-enabled cyber threats. Aging roadways strain municipal budgets and affect public safety. For example, traffic fatalities in the U.S., alone claim nearly 40,000 lives annually(1). Extreme weather events can also disrupt transportation corridors and supply chains.

    At the same time, bad actors are using AI to automate attacks and exploit connected mobility systems. As physical and digital transportation infrastructure become more interconnected, cities must strengthen both infrastructure resilience and cybersecurity to protect critical systems and maintain reliable transportation operations.

    1. NHTSA 2023

    2. NOAA’s National centers for environmental information 2024 billion-dollars disaster analysis

    3. ​IBM Ponemon – Cost of Data Breach Report 2025

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Current Urban Network Pressure Points

The trends reshaping urban transportation are putting pressure on transportation agencies. Cybersecurity risk is rising as connected IT/OT systems and AI adoption expand the attack surface. Outdated systems continue to drive up operating costs, while an aging workforce is retiring away from the aging infrastructure they maintain—leaving fewer people to operate existing networks while also modernizing them.

At the same time, growing safety concerns and roadway congestion are putting greater pressure on public transit amid shifting ridership. Traditional funding sources are eroding, increasing the need for new revenue sources such as smart parking, EV registration fees, and public-private partnerships. Climate resilience and sustainability goals add further urgency to modernization.

Two organizational challenges cut across these pressures: limited AI technical skills and siloed or unsecured data. Both can make AI solutions more difficult to build, deploy, and use securely.

Seven Key Pressure Points Facing Urban Transportation Agencies

Urban transportation agencies must address seven critical pressure points through focused investments that resolve current operational challenges and advance long-term modernization. A coordinated strategy can help agencies determine where to focus their efforts and investments.

Cybersecurity risks from connected IT/OT and AI

Defend connected operational networks, IoT systems, and automated processes against sophisticated threats.

Workforce and Asset Degradation

Manage aging infrastructure as experienced workers retire, leaving fewer people (with the right skills) to operate and modernize transportation networks.

Legacy Systems and Rising Costs

Modernize outdated technology architectures that continue to drive up operating costs.

Public Safety and Urban Congestion

Improve public safety while managing severe roadway congestion and pressure on public transit capacity.

Revenue Stream Transition

Develop new revenue sources, including smart parking, EV registration fees, and public-private partnerships, as traditional funding declines.

Climate Resilience and Sustainability Goals

Build an adaptive infrastructure capable of enduring extreme weather while meeting ambitious net-zero targets.

Building AI Skills and Making Data Easier to Access and Use

Develop internal AI capabilities while breaking down data silos to make data easier to access and use securely for operational decision-making.

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Urban Transportation Modernization Strategy

Addressing these challenges in a coordinated way requires an Urban Transportation Modernization Strategy built around clear priorities. The following five strategic priorities provide a structured approach for addressing the seven pressure points outlined on the previous page and moving from identified challenges to action. 

  • Key Pressure Points Addressed

    • Cybersecurity risks from connected IT/OT and AI â€‹

    • Workforce and Asset Degradation 

    • Legacy Systems and Rising Costs

    Protect connected transportation environments from AI-enabled cyberattacks while replacing aging infrastructure and legacy systems while aligning the workforce to manage this new, modern infrastructure. Modern, secure technology can help agencies protect connected IT and OT environments, reduce operating costs, and establish the foundation for secure, AI-enabled solutions.

  • Key Pressure Point Addressed

    Public Safety and Urban Congestion 

    Improve public safety and reduce congestion hotspots while making public transit more responsive to the needs of residents. Focus service improvements on creating safer, more accessible transportation and extending reliable service across communities.

  • Key Pressure Point Addressed

    Revenue Stream Transition 

    Develop new revenue streams to replace/supplement traditional funding sources facing shortfalls, including fuel tax revenue. Programs such as smart parking, EV registration fees, and public-private partnerships can help agencies build a more resilient funding base for transportation investments.

  • Key Pressure Point Addressed

    Climate Resilience and Sustainability Goals 

    Advance climate resilience and sustainability goals by making emissions reduction a core objective of transportation network modernization rather than treating it as a separate initiative.

  • Key Pressure Point Addressed

    Building AI Skills and Making Data Easier to Access and Use 

    Build the AI skills transportation workforces need while making data secure, accessible, and easier to use—two capabilities essential to deploy AI-driven solutions effectively. Data underpins every strategic priority, from preventing cyberattacks and optimizing traffic flow to improving network efficiency and advancing sustainability goals. Strengthening these capabilities provides a foundation for modernization across the transportation network.

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Urban Transportation Modernization Strategy – High Impact Use Cases

The Urban Transportation Modernization Strategy’s five strategic priorities can deliver measurable outcomes through a set of concrete, deployable business use cases. We have identified nine. high-impact use cases enabled by Cisco’s Connected Roadways, demonstrating how agencies can put these priorities into action to build a more modern urban transportation network.

    • Challenge

      Deploying smart, connected corridors, autonomous traffic controls, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems drastically expands municipal attack surfaces, creating critical vulnerabilities across transportation networks.

      ​​

      ​

      Navigating the Modern Attack Surface
       

      • AI-Driven Exploits
        Over 16% of breaches now leverage AI to automate social engineering and accelerate the exploitation of legacy IT/OT systems(1).
         

      • IT/OT Convergence
        Merging operational and digital networks can expose critical systems to threats such as V2X spoofing, EV grid manipulation, and sensor tampering.
         

      • Pervasive Blind Spots
        Gaps in OT asset visibility can make it difficult for operators to identify connected OT hardware, track firmware compliance, and enforce network micro-segmentation.

      Cisco Solution

      The unified Cisco + Splunk architecture bridges IT and OT security, directly mitigating the primary cyber-risks facing modern roadway networks.
       

      • Zero-Trust Network Segmentation
        Enforces automated micro-segmentation across connected field assets, isolating localized breaches to prevent network-wide traffic or power disruptions.
         

      • Continuous OT Visibility and Compliance
        Uses edge-level deep packet inspection through Cisco Cyber Vision to continuously identify assets, monitor firmware health, and enforce policy compliance.
         

      • Unified Intelligence and Automated Remediation
        Integrates Cisco edge telematics with Splunk’s AI-driven SIEM to easily and instantly detect anomalies such as V2X spoofing and initiate automated containment.

      Impact

      Eliminate critical operational blind spots, harden industrial edge networks against sophisticated cyber-attacks, and maintain continuous service availability without expanding administrative overhead.

      ​

      • 100%(3) assets visibility
         

      • 99%(3) reduction in attack propagation
         

      • 50%(2) reduction in incident MTTR
         

      • 60% to 80% reduction in truck rolls to address incidents

      (1) IBM Ponemon – Cost of Data Breach Report 2025

      (2) https://www.govloop.com/lessons-learned-from-the-nevada-department-of-transportation

      (3) https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/abm/cisco-tech-day-idaho/

    • Challenge

      Major events such as sports tournaments, conventions, and concerts can create sudden spikes in transit demand, requiring agencies to scale and adjust bus operations while maintaining reliable service across existing routes.

      ​

      • Temporary Demand Spikes and Fleet Scaling
        Event-driven surge demand requires transit agencies to rapidly scale and reconfigure bus fleets to move athletes, media, staff, and spectators across multiple dispersed venues without disrupting core transit routes.
         

      • Static Fleet Limitations
        Traditional, fixed-schedule fleet operations are not agile enough to respond to real-time traffic bottlenecks, venue crowd delays, or unexpected schedule shifts.
         

      • Integrated Command and Dynamic Orchestration
        Managing these changing conditions requires real-time fleet telemetry, dynamic dispatching, and route optimization to maintain safe, reliable, and punctual service.

      Cisco Solution

      The Cisco Connected Roadways solution combines resilient edge connectivity with real-time fleet intelligence to help agencies adjust transit operations as demand and conditions change.

      ​

      • Mission-Critical Private 5G/LTE
        Provides ultra-low latency, high-availability wireless coverage to guarantee uninterrupted vehicle-to-command communications.
         

      • Predictive Fleet Telematics
        Monitors engine diagnostics and fuel consumption in real time to prevent mid-route failures and maximize vehicle uptime.
         

      • Automated Zero-Touch Provisioning
        Simplifies onboarding, allowing non-IT field personnel to rapidly scale connected fleet vehicles without technical overhead.
         

      • Unified Operational Visibility
        Aggregates telemetry and system metrics into a centralized dashboard to inform dispatching and operational decisions.

      Impact

      Greater fleet visibility and more dynamic operations can help agencies accommodate periods of high demand while improving service performance, reducing operating costs, and lowering emissions.

      ​

      • Up to 30% increase in ridership through improved scheduling, real-time vehicle tracking, and improved passenger safety.
         

      • Up to 15% reduction in operating costs through dynamic dispatch, route optimization, and predictive telematics that decrease fuel burn and maintenance overhead. 
         

      • 10%–15% COâ‚‚ emissions reduction by reducing unnecessary idling and improving route efficiency.
         

      • 99% schedule compliance through more reliable fleet operations, security, and connectivity.

      (1) IBM Ponemon – Cost of Data Breach Report 2025

      (2) https://www.govloop.com/lessons-learned-from-the-nevada-department-of-transportation

      (3) https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/abm/cisco-tech-day-idaho/

    • Challenge

      Deploying a modern digital infrastructure on traditional AC power grids results in high levels of energy waste, inflated capital deployment costs, and project delays across municipal corridors.

      ​

      • 5%–20% Power Conversion Loss(1): Converting AC power to DC power for digital edge sensors and traffic controllers creates a loss of energy that inflates utility costs.
         

      • High Installation Costs and Time-to-Deploy: Traditional AC cabling mandates extensive trenching, conduit installation, and specialized licensed electrician labor—drastically extending project timelines and capital outlays.
         

      • ESG and Sustainability Bottlenecks: Line-power conversion losses work against municipal decarbonization goals and reduce the efficiency of integrating localized solar, wind, and battery backup systems.

      Cisco Solution

      Fault-Managed Power (FMP) replaces legacy AC power at intersections with a high-efficiency digital power distribution framework designed to improve safety and reduce the cost and complexity of deployment.

      ​

      • Advanced Safety and Risk Mitigation: Near-real-time monitoring detects electrical faults and quickly interrupts power when needed, reducing the risk of electric shock and fires caused by short circuits, arc faults, and resistive faults.
         

      • Greater Energy Efficiency: Eliminates multi-stage AC-DC power conversion losses and associated thermal waste, lowering cooling requirements and energy costs. 
         

      • Simplified Field Installation: Bypasses the need for rigid conduit installation and specialized, licensed electrician requirements, which can lower installation requirements, streamline permitting and inspections, and shorten deployment timelines.
         

      • Enhanced ESG and Sustainability: Reduces embedded carbon emissions by eliminating heavy steel conduit requirements while making the overall grid more efficient.

      Impact

      Fault-Managed Power can reduce the cost of deploying and operating digital infrastructure across roadway intersections while improving energy efficiency.

      ​

      • 40% reduction in capital expenditures (CapEx)(2) by reducing the need for heavy steel conduit, rigid enclosures, and specialized high-voltage field hardware. 
         

      • 40% reduction in installation costs(2) by reducing specialized electrical labor, trenching, and complex permitting requirements. 
         

      • 12%–18% improvement in power efficiency(2) by reducing multi-stage AC-to-DC conversion losses and associated thermal waste.

      (1). https://www.ase.org/blog/direct-current-power-systems-can-save-energy-so-building developers-are-getting-new-incentive
       

      (2). https://mkt.panduit.com/enterprise-networks.

    • Enhance Cybersecurity Posture

      Challenge

      Deploying smart, connected corridors, autonomous traffic controls, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) systems drastically expands municipal attack surfaces, creating critical vulnerabilities across transportation networks.

      ​​

      ​

      Navigating the Modern Attack Surface
       

      • AI-Driven Exploits
        Over 16% of breaches now leverage AI to automate social engineering and accelerate the exploitation of legacy IT/OT systems(1).
         

      • IT/OT Convergence
        Merging operational and digital networks can expose critical systems to threats such as V2X spoofing, EV grid manipulation, and sensor tampering.
         

      • Pervasive Blind Spots
        Gaps in OT asset visibility can make it difficult for operators to identify connected OT hardware, track firmware compliance, and enforce network micro-segmentation.

      Cisco Solution

      The unified Cisco + Splunk architecture bridges IT and OT security, directly mitigating the primary cyber-risks facing modern roadway networks.
       

      • Zero-Trust Network Segmentation
        Enforces automated micro-segmentation across connected field assets, isolating localized breaches to prevent network-wide traffic or power disruptions.
         

      • Continuous OT Visibility and Compliance
        Uses edge-level deep packet inspection through Cisco Cyber Vision to continuously identify assets, monitor firmware health, and enforce policy compliance.
         

      • Unified Intelligence and Automated Remediation
        Integrates Cisco edge telematics with Splunk’s AI-driven SIEM to easily and instantly detect anomalies such as V2X spoofing and initiate automated containment.

      Impact

      Eliminate critical operational blind spots, harden industrial edge networks against sophisticated cyber-attacks, and maintain continuous service availability without expanding administrative overhead.

      ​

      • 100%(3) assets visibility
         

      • 99%(3) reduction in attack propagation
         

      • 50%(2) reduction in incident MTTR
         

      • 60% to 80% reduction in truck rolls to address incidents

      (1) IBM Ponemon – Cost of Data Breach Report 2025

      (2) https://www.govloop.com/lessons-learned-from-the-nevada-department-of-transportation

      (3) https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/abm/cisco-tech-day-idaho/

    • Challenge

      Major events such as sports tournaments, conventions, and concerts can create sudden spikes in transit demand, requiring agencies to scale and adjust bus operations while maintaining reliable service across existing routes.

      ​

      • Temporary Demand Spikes and Fleet Scaling
        Event-driven surge demand requires transit agencies to rapidly scale and reconfigure bus fleets to move athletes, media, staff, and spectators across multiple dispersed venues without disrupting core transit routes.
         

      • Static Fleet Limitations
        Traditional, fixed-schedule fleet operations are not agile enough to respond to real-time traffic bottlenecks, venue crowd delays, or unexpected schedule shifts.
         

      • Integrated Command and Dynamic Orchestration
        Managing these changing conditions requires real-time fleet telemetry, dynamic dispatching, and route optimization to maintain safe, reliable, and punctual service.

      Cisco Solution

      The Cisco Connected Roadways solution combines resilient edge connectivity with real-time fleet intelligence to help agencies adjust transit operations as demand and conditions change.

      ​

      • Mission-Critical Private 5G/LTE
        Provides ultra-low latency, high-availability wireless coverage to guarantee uninterrupted vehicle-to-command communications.
         

      • Predictive Fleet Telematics
        Monitors engine diagnostics and fuel consumption in real time to prevent mid-route failures and maximize vehicle uptime.
         

      • Automated Zero-Touch Provisioning
        Simplifies onboarding, allowing non-IT field personnel to rapidly scale connected fleet vehicles without technical overhead.
         

      • Unified Operational Visibility
        Aggregates telemetry and system metrics into a centralized dashboard to inform dispatching and operational decisions.

      Impact

      Greater fleet visibility and more dynamic operations can help agencies accommodate periods of high demand while improving service performance, reducing operating costs, and lowering emissions.

      ​

      • Up to 30% increase in ridership through improved scheduling, real-time vehicle tracking, and improved passenger safety.
         

      • Up to 15% reduction in operating costs through dynamic dispatch, route optimization, and predictive telematics that decrease fuel burn and maintenance overhead. 
         

      • 10%–15% COâ‚‚ emissions reduction by reducing unnecessary idling and improving route efficiency.
         

      • 99% schedule compliance through more reliable fleet operations, security, and connectivity.

      (1) IBM Ponemon – Cost of Data Breach Report 2025

      (2) https://www.govloop.com/lessons-learned-from-the-nevada-department-of-transportation

      (3) https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/abm/cisco-tech-day-idaho/

      Optimize Fleet Operations with Advanced Asset Visibility and Utilization

    • Challenge

      Deploying a modern digital infrastructure on traditional AC power grids results in high levels of energy waste, inflated capital deployment costs, and project delays across municipal corridors.

      ​

      • 5%–20% Power Conversion Loss(1): Converting AC power to DC power for digital edge sensors and traffic controllers creates a loss of energy that inflates utility costs.
         

      • High Installation Costs and Time-to-Deploy: Traditional AC cabling mandates extensive trenching, conduit installation, and specialized licensed electrician labor—drastically extending project timelines and capital outlays.
         

      • ESG and Sustainability Bottlenecks: Line-power conversion losses work against municipal decarbonization goals and reduce the efficiency of integrating localized solar, wind, and battery backup systems.

      Cisco Solution

      Fault-Managed Power (FMP) replaces legacy AC power at intersections with a high-efficiency digital power distribution framework designed to improve safety and reduce the cost and complexity of deployment.

      ​

      • Advanced Safety and Risk Mitigation: Near-real-time monitoring detects electrical faults and quickly interrupts power when needed, reducing the risk of electric shock and fires caused by short circuits, arc faults, and resistive faults.
         

      • Greater Energy Efficiency: Eliminates multi-stage AC-DC power conversion losses and associated thermal waste, lowering cooling requirements and energy costs. 
         

      • Simplified Field Installation: Bypasses the need for rigid conduit installation and specialized, licensed electrician requirements, which can lower installation requirements, streamline permitting and inspections, and shorten deployment timelines.
         

      • Enhanced ESG and Sustainability: Reduces embedded carbon emissions by eliminating heavy steel conduit requirements while making the overall grid more efficient.

      Impact

      Fault-Managed Power can reduce the cost of deploying and operating digital infrastructure across roadway intersections while improving energy efficiency.

      ​

      • 40% reduction in capital expenditures (CapEx)(2) by reducing the need for heavy steel conduit, rigid enclosures, and specialized high-voltage field hardware. 
         

      • 40% reduction in installation costs(2) by reducing specialized electrical labor, trenching, and complex permitting requirements. 
         

      • 12%–18% improvement in power efficiency(2) by reducing multi-stage AC-to-DC conversion losses and associated thermal waste.

      (1). https://www.ase.org/blog/direct-current-power-systems-can-save-energy-so-building developers-are-getting-new-incentive
       

      (2). https://mkt.panduit.com/enterprise-networks.

      Modernize Roadway Infrastructure with Intelligent Power

    • Accelerate Emergency Vehicle Response with Smarter, Safer Roadway Preemption

      Challenge

      Municipalities must meet demanding emergency response time requirements while reducing the ever-present risk of emergency vehicle collisions.

       

      ​

      Critical Fleet Safety Risks

      ​

      • Severe Collision Rates
        Emergency response vehicles are involved in more than 25,500 crashes annually— 19,000+ involving fire vehicles and 6,500+ involving ambulances(1)—resulting in thousands of injuries.
         

      • Disproportionate Fatality Risk
        Emergency vehicle crash fatality rates are up to 4.8 times(2)higher than standard traffic, with vehicle crashes accounting for 20%–25% of annual fire service line-of-duty deaths(1).

         

      Response Time Mandates and Clinical Limits

      ​

      • Strict Contract Targets
        Regulations demand a five-minute first responder's arrival and an 8:59 ALS arrival for 90% of life-threatening calls(4).
         

      • Survival Windows
        Brain damage begins within four to six minutes of cardiac arrest with survival decreasing 7% to10% for every minute of delay(4).

      Cisco Solution

      CiscoEmergency Signal Prioritization synchronizes real-time vehicle telemetry with municipal traffic control systems to create dynamic “green corridors” that help emergency vehicles move through traffic faster while reducing intersection risk. 

      ​

      • Dynamic Signal Phase Management
        Automatically adjusts traffic signal timing along active response routes to clear intersections ahead of emergency vehicles, helping crews meet strict response mandates while decreasing transit risks.
         

      • Vulnerable Road User (VRU) Protection
        Uses edge computer vision and AI analytics to detect pedestrians, cyclists, and right-of-way intrusions in real time, alerting responders and adjusting signals to prevent high-speed collisions.
         

      • Adaptive Control for Road Conditions
        Analyzes local weather and visibility conditions to automatically adjust recommended vehicle speeds, signal timing, and braking margins for emergency crews during hazardous conditions

      Impact

      Combining real-time vehicle telemetry with AI-driven traffic orchestration can improve emergency response times while reducing collision risks for first responders and other roadway users.

      ​

      • 20%–35% faster response times(3)
        Clears traffic bottlenecks along active routes to help emergency vehicles to consistently meet mandated arrival targets within critical response windows.
         

      • 8%–10% reduction in fatalities and injuries(3)
        Protects first responders, motorists, and pedestrians by eliminating high-risk intersection crossings and preventing high-speed collisions.

      (1) NHTSA / Nfpa.org 


      (2) https://www.arnolditkin.com/blog/motor-vehicle-accidents/statistics-on-emergency-vehicle-accidents-in-the/ 
       

      (3) McKinsey & Company – Smart cities: Digital solutions for a more livable future (2018) 
       

      (4) EMS World – American Heart Association

    • Improve Pedestrian Safety

      Challenge

      Pedestrian fatalities and injuries create significant public safety, financial, and regulatory pressures for cities to deploy proactive infrastructure safeguards.

       

      Human & Operational Toll
       

      • High Casualty Rates
        More than 7,000 pedestrians are killed and 71,000 are injured annually on U.S. roadways—one fatality every 74 minutes and one injury every seven minutes(1). 
         

      • Economic Burden
        Pedestrian fatalities create an estimated $19 billion in direct costs and $90 billion in broader societal costs through emergency response, medical care, lost productivity, and liability(1).

         

      Strategic Funding Opportunity
       

      • Federal Capital Available
        More than $1 billion in Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant funding is available to fund safety initiatives aligned with Vision Zero goals.
         

      • Core Imperative
        Cities can leverage available federal funding to deploy proactive edge-safety technology that helps protect vulnerable road users and reduce legal liability.

      Cisco Solution

      The Cisco  solution shifts pedestrian safety from reactive crash reporting toward a more proactive approach, using predictive, real-time edge intelligence to identify risks before incidents occur.
       

      • Predictive Intersection Risk Scoring
        Ranks intersections based on the frequency and severity of near-miss events, helping transit agencies target interventions before fatal incidents occur.
         

      • Visual Safety Heat Mapping
        Maps conflict zones and recurring high-risk behaviors, giving transportation leaders data to prioritize capital investments and support applications for federal SS4A funding.
         

      • Dynamic Signal Phase Management
        Adjusts traffic signal timing and extends crossing intervals in real time to improve right-of-way safety in high-density corridors.
         

      • Environmental AI Adaptation
        Continuously monitors weather, lighting, and visibility conditions to adjust signal timing, recommended speeds, and braking margins during adverse conditions.
         

      • Actionable Operational Insights
        Generates intelligence that agencies can use to direct field investigations, modernize crosswalk infrastructure, and target public safety initiatives.

      Impact

      A more proactive approach to pedestrian safety can reduce near-miss incidents, strengthen the case for safety investments, and reduce the economic and societal costs associated with pedestrian casualties.
       

      • 30%–40% reduction in near-miss incidents(2)
        Proactive signal adjustments and real-time conflict detection help prevent critical vehicle-pedestrian interactions before collisions occur.
         

      • Capital funding acceleration
        Data-driven safety heat maps are required to successfully secure grant awards under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program.
         

      • Significant economic and societal protection
        Lower casualty and injury rates can reduce municipal legal liability and emergency response cost overhead, with more than $1.6 million in direct savings per prevented fatality.

      (1), NHTSA.gov
       

      (2). Omnisightusa.com ”How AI-Powerd sensors improve pedestrian safety”

    • Improve Transit Flow During Special Events with AI-Driven Signal Prioritization

      Challenge

      Large-scale events can create sudden spikes in transportation demand that strain existing capacity and disrupt city-wide mobility.

      ​

      • Complex Logistics and High-Volume Demand
        Moving large volumes of attendees, staff, and VIPs across multiple venues places significant pressure on urban transportation networks.
         

      • Gridlock in High-Density Corridors
        Already-congested corridors can struggle to absorb event-driven demand spikes, increasing the risk of widespread gridlock.
         

      • Modal Shift and Connectivity Imperative
        Encouraging greater public transit use during major events requires secure, reliable, and continuously connected transit operations.

      Cisco Solution

      The Cisco Intelligent Traffic Management Solution (ITMS) combines AI-driven orchestration and unified visibility to effectively manage event-driven surge demand and keep transit moving efficiently. 
       

      • Unified Central Command
        Combines real-time telematics and predictive analytics in a centralized dashboard, giving city officials greater visibility to coordinate cross-agency decisions and improve the traveler experience.
         

      • AI-Driven Pattern and Flow Analytics
        Analyzes real-time movement data across vehicles, pedestrians, and multimodal transit to dynamically optimize corridor flow and reduce event-related bottlenecks. 
         

      • Proactive Signal and Roadway Optimization
        Automates traffic light timing, priority signal corridors, and edge detection to identify right-of-way intrusions, vulnerable road users, and weather hazards.

      Impact

      The Cisco + Splunk solution helps transportation agencies manage event-driven demand while improving transit performance and reducing the impact of congestion.
       

      • 30% reduction in dwell time
        Improves transit hub operations and reduces bottlenecks at major venue entry points.
         

      • 99% schedule compliance and punctuality
        Helps maintain service punctuality across public transit and fleet services during peak demand. 
         

      • 10%–15% COâ‚‚ emissions reduction(1)
        Significantly lowers vehicle idling and improves corridor traffic flow.

      (1) McKinsey & Company – SmartCities: Digital solutions for a more livable future  

    • Enable Reliable, High-Quality Wireless Connectivity on Buses

      Challenge

      • Massive Passenger Surges
        Large-scale events can bring hundreds of thousands of additional daily riders into urban transportation corridors, straining fleet capacity as well as local cellular and transit data networks.
         

      • Elevated Digital Expectations
        Passengers expect reliable, high-speed Wi-Fi, while transit operators depend on connectivity for real-time telemetry, automated ticketing, and live security video throughout the transit route.
         

      • Legacy Network Bottlenecks
        Outdated, low-bandwidth onboard connectivity can create data bottlenecks that reduce vehicle visibility, delay dispatch communications, and degrade the passenger experience during peak demand.

      Cisco Solution

      The Cisco Connected Roadways solution provides high-availability wireless connectivity and centralized management to maintain continuous fleet operations during peak event surges.
       

      • Dedicated Private 5G/LTE
        Guarantees low-latency connectivity and prioritized bandwidth for moving vehicles, critical telemetry, and onboard systems. 
         

      • Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP)
        Allows non-IT field crews to rapidly configure, deploy, and scale connectivity across hundreds of fleet assets without manual setup. 
         

      • Centralized Fleet Orchestration
        Provides a unified dashboard to monitor network health, manage bandwidth, and provision transit assets in real time.
         

      • Multi-Layered Security
        Uses micro segmentation to isolate operational systems and vehicle controls from public passenger Wi-Fi traffic.

      Impact

      High-availability connectivity can turn buses into secure, connected platforms that improve the passengerexperience and safety while creating new opportunities for revenue.
       

      • Up to 30% ridership growth
        Reliable onboard Wi-Fi and real-time transit updates improve passenger satisfaction and retention. 
         

      • Improved rider and operator safety
        High-throughput connectivity supports continuous live CCTV streaming and rapid emergency dispatch alerts. 
         

      • New Revenue Opportunities
        Onboard Wi-Fi portals can support third-party advertising, location-based promotions, and media sponsorships.

      (1) IBM Ponemon – Cost of Data Breach Report 2025

      (2) https://www.govloop.com/lessons-learned-from-the-nevada-department-of-transportation

      (3) https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/abm/cisco-tech-day-idaho/

    • Optimize Traffic Flow with a More Adaptive, Sustainable City Infrastructure

      Challenge

      Traffic congestion threatens regional growth, public health, and climate goals, while legacy controls lack the adaptability to reduce its economic and environmental impact.
       

      • Growing Economic Impact
        National congestion costs expanded 11.3% year over year, reaching an estimated $89 billion annually in lost workforce productivity, supply chain delays, and wasted fuel.
         

      • Cost to Drivers
        The average U.S. driver spends 49 hours per year in traffic, representing an estimate $894 annually in lost time and fuel expenditures.
         

      • Environmental Impact
        Vehicle idling and congestion increase urban carbon emissions. In high-density regions such as the Los Angeles metro area, traffic delays generate 2.2 million metric tons of direct COâ‚‚ emissions annually. 

      Cisco Solution

      The Cisco + Splunk platform replaces legacy time-of-day signal controls with AI-driven traffic orchestration to reduce congestion across urban traffic corridors.
       

      • Dynamic Adaptive Signal Control
        Automatically adjusts signal phases and timing while detecting vulnerable road users, weather hazards, and right-of-way intrusions.
         

      • Real-Time AI Flow Analysis
        Continuously analyzes multimodal traffic data to relieve congestion bottlenecks as traffic patterns change.
         

      • Intent-Based Unified Network
        Secures and consolidates field infrastructure on a single platform to reduce processing latency and mitigating cyber risks.
         

      • Full-Stack Network Observability
        Provides end-to-end visibility across hardware and network layers to quickly isolate and resolve disruptions before congestion spreads. 

      Impact

      AI-driven traffic orchestration can help cities reduce congestion and its associated economic and environmental costs by adapting traffic operations as conditions change.
       

      • 1% to 20% reduction in commute times
        Dynamic signal optimization and AI-driven flow analysis reduce bottlenecks across major urban corridors.
         

      • $160 to $320 saved per driver annually
        Reduced idling can lower fuel costs and recover time otherwise lost to congestion.  
         

      • 10% to 15% reduction in carbon emissions
        Reduced vehicle idling lowers urban carbon emissions and advances progress toward municipal ESG and sustainability targets.

      (1) IBM Ponemon – Cost of Data Breach Report 2025

      (2) https://www.govloop.com/lessons-learned-from-the-nevada-department-of-transportation

      (3) https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/abm/cisco-tech-day-idaho/

    • Use Remote Asset Condition Monitoring and Control to Proactively Manage Roadway Assets 

      Challenge

      Legacy roadway infrastructure lacks real-time visibility, forcing transit agencies into a reactive and highly inefficient maintenance model.

       

      • Blind Spots and Reactive Maintenance
        Without continuous asset monitoring, cities cannot predict hardware failures, increasing the risk of service outages and corridor congestion. 
         

      • High Maintenance Overhead
        Manual diagnostics can require up to 70 hours per intersection retiming and as many as 20 truck rolls per day(1).
         

      • Operational Drag and Risk
        Reliance on manual troubleshooting increases operating costs, strains field personnel, and leaves critical roadway assets exposed to physical and cyber vulnerabilities.

      Cisco Solution

      The Cisco solution platform integrates real-time telemetry with AI-driven predictive maintenance to shift roadway operations from reactive maintenance toward proactive infrastructure management.
       

      • Single-Pane Visibility
        Centralizes intersection health, operational status, and geospatial mapping in a single dashboard.
         

      • Automated Failure Alerts
        Delivers real-time notifications of offline hardware or performance anomalies to reduce mean time to repair (MTTR).
         

      • Predictive Network Analytics
        Analyzes traffic corridor telemetry to detect failure patterns before service disruptions occur.
         

      • Proactive Asset Health
        Continuously monitors hardware conditions to extend equipment lifespans and lower field maintenance costs.

      Impact

      Deploying the unified Cisco + Splunk asset observability platform eliminates operational drag, driving dramatic cost savings and resilience across municipal infrastructure
       

      • 65% reduction in MTTR
        Automated diagnostics accelerate root-cause identification and incident remediation across field networks.(1)
         

      • 75% reduction in daily truck rolls
        Centralized remote telemetry reduces unnecessary physical dispatches and routine field visits.(1)
         

      • 90% labor efficiency gain
        Automated intersection re-timing reduces manual work, freeing technical staff for strategic infrastructure initiatives.(1)
         

      • Near-zero network outages
        Predictive AI identifies hardware degradation early to help maintain traffic signal uptime.

      (1)       [Footnotes]Cisco implementation for city in Texas

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Urban Transportation Modernization Strategy - Community Outcomes

From Strategy to Measurable Community Outcomes

Putting the strategy into action can deliver measurable community outcomes that transportation agencies, cities, and residents experience directly—from safer streets and faster emergency response to reduced congestion, lower emissions, and more efficient operations. The nine use cases outlined in this strategy address 25 business outcome KPIs across the urban transportation network.

A few examples show the potential outcomes:
 

  • Emergency Vehicle Preemption uses AI-driven signal control to prioritize EMS vehicles, reducing response times by 20–35%, and injuries and fatalities by 8–10%. 
     

  • Pedestrian Safety uses predictive edge AI to identify risk before incidents occur, reducing near-miss events by 30–40% and improving safety for residents using urban roadways. 
     

  • Optimize Traffic Flow uses AI-driven orchestration to improve signal control, reducing commute times by 10–20%, and vehicle emissions across the network by 10–15%. 
     

  • Intelligent Power lowers total cost of ownership compared with legacy AC infrastructure, reducing cabling and installation costs by approximately 40%, and energy consumption by 12–18%.

Maximize runway utilization and on-time performance (OTP)

Outcomes

  • High OTP minimizes airline penalties while enhancing airport reputation and capacity.

  • Efficient runway operations increase airport capacity without the need for costly physical expansion.

Powered by Cisco

  • Cisco IoT, low-latency networks, and Cisco Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul deliver real-time airside data for aircraft status and routing.

  • Cisco Edge Intelligence analyzes this granular data, empowering autonomous airfield AI to detect and resolve issues quickly, improving scheduling and reliability.

Drive non-aeronautical revenue and customer satisfaction

Outcomes

  • High customer satisfaction (OSAT) increases dwell time and retail spending raising non-aeronautical revenue.

  • Non-aeronautical revenue such as retail shopping, food and beverage outlets, advertising and parking is critical for airport profitability.

  • For business and vacation travelers, even a 5-minute increase in dwell time can generate meaningful incremental revenue.

Powered by Cisco

  • Cisco Wi-Fi and Spaces leverage location-based analytics to provide personalized, real-time offers and wayfinding.

  • Secure, targeted engagements boost dwell time and conversion rates for retailers and advertisers.

Improve gate turnaround and baggage handling efficiency

Outcomes

  • Faster gate turnaround boosts aircraft utilization and helps airlines keep schedules on track, increasing revenue opportunities for the airport.

  • Reliable baggage handling minimizes mishandled or lost luggage, decreasing compensation claims and helping prevent costly operational delays.

Powered by Cisco

  • Cisco solutions use industrial IoT sensors for real-time baggage tracking, predictive maintenance, connected gate systems, and secure collaboration tools to coordinate airport operations, speeding up gate turns and improving on-time performance.

Reduce security wait time and increase passenger throughput

Outcomes

  • Long security wait times can severely impact the passenger experience and reduce the airport's capacity to handle more passengers.

  • With the TSA screening 904 million passengers per year, reducing wait times can dramatically enhance the traveler experience.

Powered by Cisco

  • Cisco camera analytics with AI and IoT sensors deliver real-time queue measurement and predictive modeling, while zero trust security and high-performance networks enable fast biometric screening, automated delay analysis, and dynamic passenger flow management to shrink wait times and boost passenger throughput.

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Cisco’s Connected Roadway Solution – Modernizing Roadways Through Security, Safety, and Sustainability

Cisco’s Connected Roadways Solution delivers a smart, secure, and scalable foundation built to strengthen cybersecurity posture, reduce operating expenses, and enhance safety for pedestrians, commuters, and civil servants – while easing traffic congestion, driving public transport ridership, and advancing sustainability goals.

Cisco Connected Roadways Solution

Securely connect intelligent transportation systems (ITS) at every roadside and traffic intersection with Cisco’s enterprise-grade, ruggedized networking solutions. Click the solutions button to toggle between Business Value and Technology.

Click on the + or title below the illustration to see more details.

  • Business Value

    ​

    • Roadways Command Center Dashboard with Splunk

    • Centralized management and configuration to scale operations

    • Connect roadsides with modular fiber, wireless, and cellular solutions

    • Improve Cybersecurity posture

    Technology Benefits


    Wi-Fi powers touchless kiosks, biometric boarding, and IoT for automated bag tracking and rerouting.

  • Business Value

    ​

    • Support high-bandwidth connectivity for sophisticated, 4K cameras

    Technology Benefits

    ​

    • Pedestrian Safety

    • AI / Auto response to incidents

    • Proactive BSL Maintenance

  • Business Value

    ​

    • Fast updates for timely alerts for fog, ice, snow or extreme heat

    • Ruggedized, small form factor easily installed to withstand harsh weather

    Technology Benefits

     

    • Roadside safety via timely alerts for fog, ice, snow or extreme heat

    • Integrated with road signs for commuter warnings         

  • Business Value​

    Technology Benefits

    ​

    • Autonomous vehicle readiness

    • EV charging management

    • Smart parking solutions

  • Business Value

    ​

    • High bandwidth, low latency connectivity of LiDAR, radar, and sensors to support connected autonomous vehicle (CAV) corridors

    Technology Benefits

    ​

    • Advertising in public transit

    • Mobile worker / commuter NPS

  • Business Value

    ​

    • Enable access to data to support use cases like wrong way driver or curb speed warning

    • Edge compute to accelerate alerts

    Technology Benefits

    ​

    • Roadside safety (e.g., wrong way driver, curb speed warning)

    • Weather or incident messaging

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Leverage the Power of Public Funding

Public funding empowers pursuit of innovative ideas and execution on critical initiatives.

By using public funding to expand budgets, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to the future.

The mission of the Cisco Public Funding Office

  • Increase the amount funding you receive for technology from federal and state sources

  • Align available funding sources with your initiatives

  • Act as a resource and a bridge between your grants team and your technology team

  • Support your staff with subject matter expertise on the technology focused grants

Grants Support Process

Cisco works with your organization throughout the grants submission process

1. Identify Gaps

  • Cisco can help define your current technology needs

  • Leverage the Funding Research Report to identify best fit technology-focused grants

2. Develop Timeline

  • We can leverage the new tech-focused grants list to develop an annual timeline of action items to assure timely project management and grant submission for each program

3. Support Grant Submissions

  • Cisco Funding Team, working with a third-party consulting group, can support the development of each grant project

  • Cisco Sales and Engineering teams can provide technology-specific content

  • Consulting group can review and give tips on how to increase scoring to strengthen the application

4. Reporting

  • Monthly or Quarterly Status Reports for ongoing projects are provided to leadership team

Real-World Airport Success

Cisco delivers end-to-end AI-ready solutions, validated by partnerships with leading airports worldwide. By securing and leveraging large volumes of operational and passenger data, these airports optimize efficiency and performance at every stage of the travel experience.

Denver International Airport (DEN)

In 2024, DEN set a new record with 82.4 million passengers, ranking third in the U.S. and sixth globally. The airport’s Vision 100 plan aims to accommodate over 100 million passengers and is supported by major modernization programs. 6

  • DEN leads with a strong focus on cybersecurity, operational resilience, and ecosystem integration. The Great Hall Program is a key initiative to expand terminal capacity and enhance passenger experience.

  • The airport’s digital strategy emphasizes a future-ready foundation, leveraging platforms like Cisco Spaces and Splunk for analytics and operational insights. With 53 square miles, DEN offers unmatched potential for continued growth and innovation.

Gatwick Airport

Gatwick, the UK’s second largest airport, welcomed 43.2 million passengers in 2024. 7

  • The airport’s vision is to be the “airport of the future” and a leader in sustainable growth.

  • Gatwick uses Splunk to unify operational data across e-gates, security, and parking-management, helping manage the demands of high passenger volumes.

  • Integrated technology now provides a single data source for teams, enabling faster analysis and improvements. Gatwick credits Splunk with making a significant difference in daily operations.

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From Signal to SOC:
Building the Intelligent Roadway

By adopting Cisco's solution—from street-level sensors and IoT connectivity to the infrastructure fabric and Splunk's intelligence layer—transportation agencies gain the unified observability, resilient security, and massive data capacity necessary to:

  • Elevate the traveler experience by improving safety, reducing congestion, and building public trust.

  • Secure the global hub with comprehensive zero trust security across both IT and OT environments.

  • Optimize total cost of ownership by consolidating network management, reducing truck rolls, and shifting to predictive maintenance.

  • Achieve operational excellence using AI and digital twin technologies to optimize processes from signal timing to incident response.

Modernizing the roadway network is the essential first step in preparing for the age of AI.

Start building a resilient, strategic digital foundation today by partnering with Cisco to define a technology blueprint that enables innovation, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth.

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How can Cisco support my
Urban Transportation Network Modernization Strategy? 

Schedule a Consultation with Cisco

  • Request a customized Cisco Readiness Report for transportation businesses

  • Engage with a Cisco partner for deployment planning

  • Get a free Cisco Transportation Tech Readiness Assessment

  • Create a custom roadmap for Wi-Fi, security, and network operations

Click here for more information

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