REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 13, 2019
FROM: GREGORY A. BARFIELD, Director
Department of Transportation
BY: BRIAN BARR, Assistant Director
Department of Transportation
SUSAN ROGERS, Capital Development Specialist
Department of Transportation
SUBJECT
Title
Actions relating to the purchase of traffic signal priority technology
1. Award a sole source purchase agreement to Opticom/Global Traffic Technologies in the amount of $210,205.73 for the purchase of traffic signal priority technology
2. RESOLUTION - Approve an exception to formal bidding procedures and awarding a sole source agreement for traffic signal priority technology
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve a purchase order in the amount of $210,205.73 to Global Traffic Technologies (GTT) for the purchase of traffic signal priority (TSP) intersection equipment.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
FAX seeks to improve bus service and schedule adherence along the Shaw Avenue corridor between Willow Avenue and Polk Avenue. FAX intends to achieve this by deploying TSP technology along this corridor. To accomplish this, 31 intersections along Shaw Avenue, from Willow Avenue to Polk Avenue, will need to have new or upgraded TSP equipment installed. This technology will optimize signal timing by creating a longer/shorter green at the signal as the bus approaches the intersection. This is an element of the Shaw Avenue TSP capital project and a part of the FAX efforts to improve service.
BACKGROUND
In February 2018, the Department of Transportation/FAX implemented a TSP solution along its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route to improve bus schedule adherence and transit operational efficiency. FAX accomplished this by installing new and/or upgrading existing Opticom equipment at 73 intersections, installed on-board vehicle units onto 20 buses, and implemented system management software.
FAX now seeks to advance on this work by improving bus service and schedule adherence along the Shaw Avenue corridor between Willow Avenue and Polk Avenue by adding TSP technology along the corridor. The TSP equipment will give preferential treatment to a bus that is running behind schedule by creating a longer/shorter green at the intersection improving the buses ability maintain and/or achieve schedule adherence. In order for the bus to request and obtain a longer/shorter green, the bus must be able to communicate to the TSP technology installed at these intersections.
The TSP intersection equipment furnished by this project will provide priority TSP to transit vehicles and preemption to emergency vehicles by sending a priority/preemption request to the traffic signal controller via TSP technology. The TSP technology will include an intersection GPS and 2.4 GHz radio module and connecting cable with an unobstructed range of at least 2,500 feet along with a multimode phase selector that communicates to a TSP module located in the existing traffic signal cabinets. The newly and/or upgraded equipment will be required to be fully inter-operable with the existing City Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP) system located at more than 300 existing signals and will conform to the City of Fresno Standard Plans and Specifications for EVP.
In order for the City Traffic Operations Center (TOC) retain control and coordinate operations and maintenance between its existing priority control systems, EVP and TSP, the newly installed TSP intersection equipment must be compatible with the existing on-board vehicle TSP equipment, the existing TSP intersection equipment and the present Central Management System (CMS).
On January 3, 2019, FAX solicited a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit information on qualified vendors who manufacture and provide intersection TSP equipment, which is natively compatible with the current on-board vehicle TSP technology utilized by FAX buses, the existing traffic signal controllers utilized by both the City and Caltrans, and the present CMS. The RFI closed with one response. It was confirmed through review that the proposer, GTT, did meet the specifications of the RFI. FAX has concluded that GTT is the only vendor that can supply the required equipment. This manufacturer no longer distributes its equipment to third-party resellers. The TSP intersection equipment supports the Shaw Avenue TSP construction project.
The City Attorney has approved the purchase agreement as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378, the award of this contract is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
The City Local Preference Ordinance (FMC 4-108) was not applied because this is a sole source purchase.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund from this request. This purchase is funded by Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds and capital funding appropriated in the Department of Transportation FY19 capital budget.
Attachments:
Sole Source Justification Memo
Resolution SHTSP Intersection
Product Purchase Contract