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Home My WebLink About2011-02-22; City Council; 20466; TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEMCITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL 11 AB# 20,466 MTG. 2/22/1 1 DEPT. IRAN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DEPT. DIRECYOR /7/L CITY ATTORNEY ^ (^2> CITY MANAGER £iA—- RECOMMENDED ACTION: Receive an update on the progress of the Traffic Management System project. ITEM EXPLANATION: This informational report provides an update on the current status of the Traffic Management System project. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: None for this report. FISCAL IMPACT: None for this report. EXHIBITS: 1. February 8, 2011 memo to City Manager from Transportation Director regarding the Traffic Management System DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Doug Bilse, (760) 602-7504, doug.bilse@carlsbadca.gov FOR CITY CLERKS USE ONLY COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED D DENIED D CONTINUED D WITHDRAWN D AMENDED D CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC D CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN D RETURNED TO STAFF D OTHER - SEE MINUTES D Council received the progress report. . CITY OF CARLSBAD February 8, 2011 To: Lisa Hildabrand, City Manager From: Doug Bilse, Traffic Signal Systems Engineer Via: Skip Hammann, Transportation Director Re: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM/TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROGRAM UPDATE Background There are currently 170 traffic signals maintained by the City of Carlsbad. The electronic equipment alone equates to a $20 million asset. Staff has been working on developing a robust traffic signal program over the past year. The cornerstone of this program will be the proposed Traffic Management System (TMS) which will network the 170 traffic signals in the city to the new Traffic Management Center (TMC) recently installed in the Faraday Building. While the TMC and TMS work has been highly visible, there are several other important traffic signal issues that staff is dealing with to keep traffic moving in Carlsbad. Traffic Signal Maintenance Program Staff recently completed an overhaul of the traffic signal maintenance program. Last year Republic ITS was selected to continue their outstanding work and dedicated maintenance of the traffic signal equipment. The new Republic ITS contract uses an innovative unit price concept that replaced the former contract based on time and material costs. Staff developed a new paperless tracking system to ensure that all maintenance work is completed on time and within budget. A detailed equipment inventory and deferred maintenance program is being developed so that the long-term replacement costs of the traffic signal equipment will be included in future budgets. Equipment Upgrades Staff has been identifying equipment upgrades that will improve the traffic signal operations. The most important upgrade identified was the video detection equipment. The current video detection system uses cameras mounted on the signal mast arms that are well beyond their expected service life. This results in drivers complaining that the signal is serving "phantom" cars on the side streets. Staff has also been reviewing new detection equipment that may ultimately replace video (e.g., infrared and microwave technologies). Staff will be prepared to present this item to City Council for a project to upgrade the video detection cameras next month. A new traffic signal coordination process was recently introduced in the City of San Marcos. This Adaptive Signal Timing uses the traffic signal controllers to collect real-time traffic information to develop timing plans using artificial intelligence. Staff recommends a thorough review of the San Marcos project before making and long-term commitment to this process. The current traffic signal equipment upgrades are being made with the long-term goal of automating the traffic signal data collection and signal timing process similar to the San Marcos program. Transportation Department §jf 1635 Faraday Ave. I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-602-2730 | 760-602-8562 fax I www.carlsbadca.gov Ms. Hildabrand February 8, 2011 Page 2 Pilot Project Review Last summer staff completed a Pilot Project which set up the TMC in the Faraday Building and completed the first link to the traffic signal equipment at the intersection of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road. This project was a success and was completed under budget. Staff is now able to remotely manage the traffic signal at this intersection from the TMC and view live traffic video feeds. The cost savings can be attributed to using demonstration equipment provided by the contractor. The developers of the proposed Lowe's project at the corner of El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road have been conditioned to reimburse the city for the cost of the permanent equipment that will be installed as part of this year's TMS project. The remaining funds for the Pilot Project were used to inventory the conduit along Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real. This inventory identified several locations were conduit runs were either missing or damaged and therefore will not be of value in the upcoming TMS project. The Pilot Project funds were also used to develop equipment specifications and field test wireless radio transmission rates at key locations for the upcoming TMS project. In summary, the Pilot Project went well beyond the original scope of work and staff has proceeded to address the most important challenges of the upcoming CIP project. CIP Project: TMS Phase I The current CIP has programmed $208,000 in FY10/11 for the first phase of the TMS project. These funds are expected to purchase all of the equipment needed to link the traffic signals along El Camino Real to the TMC in the Faraday Building. As noted above,.some of this cost will be reimbursed by the developer of the proposed Lowe's project. The bid package for the TMS Phase I project is expected to be brought to City Council for their review at the next available City Council meeting. Staff has spent a significant amount of time researching wireless technologies and developing good equipment specifications because the Phase I bid is expected to set the equipment standards and unit prices for future TMS phases. It is very important to note that the TMC and TMS by themselves will not improve traffic flow in the city. These are simply advanced tools that will allow staff to implement new signal timing plans and maintain equipment much more efficiently. Once all of the traffic signals along El Camino Real are linked to the TMC, staff will start implementing new timing plans to improve efficiency. This will take a few months, and after this work is completed staff will start the next phase of the TMS project to link Palomar Airport Road to the network. Staff is working with the developers of the proposed La Costa Town Square to link the traffic signals along Rancho Santa Fe Road to the TMC as a condition of approval for their project. c: John Kim, Traffic Division Manager (OCA) 3 Traffic Signal Program Keeping Traffic Moving in Carlsbad Skip Hammann Doug Bilse February 22, 2011 Background Information •170 traffic signals are maintained in Carlsbad •Over $30M has been invested installing signals •Equipment is outdated and approaching its service life •Signal coordination is an information driven process •Signal technology based on reliability not coordination (signals can’t talk to each other) How Do We Improve Traffic Flow? •Need to find a better balance between mainline traffic flow and side street delay •Upgrade signal equipment to get better information •Link signals to the new Traffic Management Center so that we can: –Analyze coordination plans in the office by seeing all signals at one time –Receive alarms of equipment failures –Alert staff of changes to signal plans in the field Existing Traffic Signal Program Reactive Coordination Planning and Equipment Specs Signal Maintenance= React to complaints Limited Annual Count Data: Snap shot of traffic patterns Existing Traffic Signal Program Reactive Coordination Equipment Upgrades Signal Maintenance= Proactive Real-Time Data: Signals help identify traffic patterns Equipment Upgrades •Over $5M in electronic signal equipment •Approaching 10-year service life •Upgrade equipment as we link signals to Traffic Management Center •Video Detection upgrades = stand alone project Video Detection Cameras Why “phantom” vehicles get a green arrow 13 Running in Coordination •Signals are not smart and can’t talk to each other •Signals can gather information but cannot react to the data •Coordination= “freezing the mainline on green” •Need to estimate mainline green time for each timing plan •Select which direction gets preferred treatment •Traffic pattern changes every hour, by day of week, month of year, special events Developing a Signal Plan Library Where we are: •Snap shot of traffic taken each summer •3 to 5 signal timing plans for each corridor •All weekdays treated the same •No adjustments for seasonal changes (e.g., school) Where we are going: •Constantly gather real-time traffic data •Use data to develop library of signal timing plans •Constantly select best plan using real-time data Equipment Upgrade Program •El Camino Real & Palomar Airport Road will be upgraded in 1 year! •ECR & PAR are most important corridors and biggest challenge •2-3 Years to complete major corridors •$3-4M for major corridors Traffic Management Center Pilot Project •Traffic Management Center software funded by a SANDAG grant •Project successfully completed last summer •Wireless design complete for ECR and field tested •All work contracted out •First phase bid package for wireless equipment to City Council in March (will form basis for multi- year project) MaerkleMaerkle TowerTower TMCTMC EL CAMINO PALOMAR AIRPORT RDAgua Hedionda Lagoon Batiquitos Lagoon Pacific Ocean REAL J:\Requests2010Plus\Transport\4538647_11 MaerkleMaerkle TowerTower TMCTMC EL CAMINO PALOMAR AIRPORT RDAgua Hedionda Lagoon Batiquitos Lagoon Pacific Ocean REAL J:\Requests2010Plus\Transport\4538647_11 MaerkleMaerkle TowerTower TMCTMC EL CAMINO PALOMAR AIRPORT RDAgua Hedionda Lagoon Batiquitos Lagoon Pacific Ocean REAL J:\Requests2010Plus\Transport\4538647_11 MaerkleMaerkle TowerTower TMCTMC EL CAMINO PALOMAR AIRPORT RDAgua Hedionda Lagoon Batiquitos Lagoon Pacific Ocean REAL J:\Requests2010Plus\Transport\4538647_11 Summary •Complete backbone on ECR/PAR in one year •Video detection upgraded on major corridors in one year •Upgrade signal equipment as we go •Wireless equipment bids to City Council in March •All major corridors upgraded in 2-3 years at a cost of $3-4M Questions? Corridor Signals ECR 25 PAR 12 RSF 10 CVD 6 Cannon/College 14 Faraday Ave 8 Aviara Pkwy 13 Poinsettia 12 Melrose Dr 7 Total 107 Evolution of a Signal Plan Library Time of Day: Current •3 to 5 daily fixed plans per corridor •All weekdays treated the same (snap shot approach) •No adjustments for seasonal changes (e.g., school) Traffic Responsive: Short-Term •5 to 10 plans available •TMC constantly selecting best plan using real-time data Traffic Adaptive: Potential •TMC constantly creating best plan using real-time data •Needs to be monitored Traffic Signals by Jurisdiction Jurisdiction Population Total Signals Signals per Capita % Signals Linked to TMC San Diego 1,376,000 1,580 1.1 72% Chula Vista 237,000 263 1.1 96% Oceanside 183,000 141 0.8 82% Escondido 147,000 142 1.0 87% Carlsbad 107,000 170 1.6 2% El Cajon 100,000 117 1.2 88% Vista 98,000 95 1.0 87% San Marcos 84,000 110 1.3 65% Encinitas 65,000 58 0.9 100% National City 58,000 73 1.3 64% Santee 58,000 56 1.0 43% La Mesa 58,000 57 1.0 93% Poway 52,000 55 1.1 96% County Total 3,220,000 3,606 1.1 73%