U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Brighton, along with Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Calif., began the Intelligent Transportation Systems Caucus in hopes of best using new transportation technologies.

Rogers said the caucus will work toward applying high technology to make the nation’s airports, highways, railroads and transit systems safe, secure and efficient.

“We will have applied technology to automobiles in the future that will allow us to be less oil dependent and have cleaner engines,” he said. “We are getting a tremendous response from auto-suppliers and technological companies.”

The caucus will be looking at ways to increase the safety of vehicles, and to reduce their impact on the environment, Rogers said.

“This is important for MSU students because it is the future of the automotive industry,” he said. “This will be very important.”

Jacque Passino’s term as the director of the newly created Michigan Department of Information Technology begins today.

Engler nominated Passino Nov. 19 for director after signing an executive order in August to create the department.

“He is an incredibly intelligent and well-spoken and easily understood computer person,” said Matt Resch, a spokesman for Engler. “(Passino) was able to, in a plain spoken way, explain the challenges that the state has in information technology and the goals he has for the state.”

Passino has 30 years experience in information technology. He has worked with automakers and banking groups to help build information technology programs.