Best practices in the digitalization of expressways can be leveraged in the regions

The "Intelligent Transportation Systems and Digital Solutions" session at the XI Road Initiatives Forum turned into a leading platform for discussing key aspects of the implementation of the "Efficient Transportation System" national project.
The session was moderated by Viktoria Erkenova, Deputy Chair of the Board for Intelligent Transportation Systems and Digitalization of the Russian Highways State Company, and Polina Davydova, Director of the Digital Transport and Logistics Association.
Vyacheslav Petushenko, Chair of the Board of the Russian Highways, made a welcoming address. He remarked that intelligent transportation systems have stayed one of the Forum's leading topics for the eleventh year in a row. And the platform itself helps realize what has been accomplished and outline goals for the future.
Andrei Nikitin, Deputy Minister of Transport, opened the session by extending his gratitude to the Russian Highways for the company's grand-scale contribution to the digital development of the transportation industry.
"Today, the Russian Highways is the driving force behind the digitalization of Russia's transport industry. A pivotal and unparalleled project that has been implemented along with the State Company is the unmanned transportation corridors. This was enabled by a serious groundwork in the form of cameras and AI technology. Now we are facing such challenging and crucial tasks as to ensure commercial freight transportation by self-driving vehicles in 2026 along the route from Kazan to St. Petersburg, as well as to leverage the best practices in the regions," argued Andrei Nikitin.
During the session, commercial companies presented their projects that have already been successfully deployed across the expressways.
The general attention was focused on developing a unified transportation system that delivers convenience and accessibility for all users, factoring in the growing automation and development of high technologies.
The development of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) in Russia is at the stage of burgeoning growth. The principal areas are integration of technologies, development of comfortable urban infrastructure and improvement of interaction between various means of transport.

New digital solutions were discussed, including traffic management systems that streamline traffic flows, reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety.
Experts stressed the vital importance of robust mobile communications for the ITS operation. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been spotlighted as a key tool for data analysis and automation of transportation management processes. AI is particularly relevant for predicting and managing traffic flow, as well as analyzing driver behavior and improving traffic safety.
A successful example of its implementation is represented by the "Free Flow" system, which is already operating down the Central Ring Road, the M-12 "Vostok" and the A-289 motorway.
The forum participants expressed confidence that the integration of technologies and active cooperation between governmental agencies, academic organizations and businesses should be the linchpin of the successful implementation of the set goals.