The Urban Intelligent Transportation Systems Center (UITSC) was established in November, 1995, by the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) for the purpose of creating an effective mechanism through which the City, the State, and transportation authorities in the metropolitan region can work with each other and the private sector on matters concerning the deployment and sustainability of ITS technologies.

The UITSC is an outgrowth of collaboratory ITS efforts between the cities of New York and Paris, which recognized the need to create a focus on ITS activities at the local level and to develop institutional networks through which the deployment of ITS technology in New York City may be accelerated.