Columbus Metropolitan Signal System Assessment

& Strategic Plan Development

ITS Mid-America/ITE Annual Meeting

September 8, 2003

Outline History of Columbus Signal Systems Project Impetus/Opportunity Scope Development

Information gathering

Project Details Technical / Operational Assessment Institutional Assessment

Timeline

Importance of Coordinated Traffic Signal Systems

Reduce congestion

Reduce accidents

Reduce aggressive driver behavior

Improve air quality/reduce fuel consumption

Postpone or eliminate the need for construction

of additional capacity

History: Columbus Metropolitan Computerized Traffic Signal System Original System

Dates back to the 1950’s Captured federal dollars – civil defense funding Utilized electromechanical controllers

Modifications to Original System Improvements to CBD operations TOPICS funds Central control system Coaxial cable interconnect and conduit Closed circuit camera – funding Set model for future deployment System that the city can maintain on it’s own

History: Columbus Metro Signal System (cont’d) Continued system expansion as Columbus expanded Innovative ideas – federal money for demonstration

project Northland area monitored from downtown office

CMAQ funding to upgrade to a new central system (Phases 1 - 6) Monitor up to 1,000 signals Update 1950’s electromechanical system Update CBD Began working with other jurisdictions

History: Columbus Metro Signal System (cont’d) Closed Loop Systems

Started in 1981 Put in with construction projects as surrounding areas

developed Currently, limited coordination between closed loop

systems

History: Columbus Metro Signal System (cont’d)

History: Columbus Metro Signal System (cont’d) Relationships built with other jurisdictions for design,

monitoring, maintenance and incident management Bexley, Franklin County, Grandview Heights, Marble Cliff, ODOT, OSU, Reynoldsburg, Upper Arlington, Valleyview, and Whitehall

What does the future hold for the Columbus Metro Traffic Signal System? Communications Infrastructure? Central Control System? Inter-jurisdictional collaboration?

National ITS ArchitectureFinal Rule / Policy On January 8, 2001, FHWA issued an ITS

Architecture and Standards regulation and FTA issued a parallel Policy. These two “policies” are virtually identical in content.

They both became effective April 8, 2001. The intent is to foster integration (and proper

consideration of integration) of ITS systems being deployed in a region.

Regional ITS Architecture Regional Architectures must be

maintained by the responsible agencies (e.g. MORPC).

Areas with existing architectures need to evaluate that architecture and revise as necessary to be in conformance with the Final Rule/Policy.

MORPC Investment in the System CM/AQ funds City design = local match

Spent Phases 1 – 10 = $16.5 M

Programmed Phases 11 – 14 = $11.3 M

MORPC/City Seizing an Opportunity Review compliance with the Regional ITS

Architecture Aim to contain cost overruns Aim to minimize constructions delays

Project Partners

Suburban Communities Safety Forces

Information Gathering: How did we get to where we are today? Part 1: Awareness Assessment Part 2: Technical Oversight Committee Part 3: ITS Peer to Peer Exchange

Part 1:Awareness Assessment Questions Do you know what the Regional ITS Architecture

is? Do you know what the Columbus Computerized

Traffic Signal System is? Does your agency have a relationship with the

Columbus Computerized Traffic Signal System? Maintenance, monitoring, design, other?

Would you like to have a relationship with the Columbus Computerized Traffic Signal System?

Part 1:Awareness Assessment Ques. (cont’d) What works well? What could work better? What do you see as future

demands/expectations on signal systems? 5 years – 10 years – 15 years?

How will your organization interface with the Columbus Computerized Traffic Signal System in the future?

Part 1:Awareness Assessment Results 36% didn’t know what the ITS architecture was nor why

it is important

86% were aware of the Columbus Computerized Traffic

Signal System

64% currently had some sort of relationship with the

signal system (67% monitoring, 44% maintenance, 33%

design)

Some indicated they would like more of a relationship

with the system, but needed to learn how to do that

Part 1:Awareness Assessment Results (cont’d) What could work better?

Signal progression to meet the needs of the community

Communications between staff and other non-city stakeholders re: signal timing changes and maintenance needs

Local access to data Signal priority and pre-emption

Part 2:Traffic Signal Oversight Committee Quarterly meetings April 9th

Kickoff meeting – overview of project/process

July 1st Stakeholder opportunity to review the RFP and

questionnaire

Next Meeting: October Consultant kickoff meeting

Part 3: ITS Peer to Peer Exchange Intelligent Transportation Systems

Location: Columbus, OH April 8th & 9th, 2003 Purpose: On site expertise for

stakeholder buy in

Part 3: ITS Peer to Peer Exchange

MORPC sought an unbiased source for traffic signal system advice and expertise Avoid consultant conflicts Wanted to learn from those who had

similar problems as central Ohio Older signal system technology Signal technology not compliant with the

Regional ITS Architecture Wanted to improve regional systems

integration at a reasonable cost

Part 3:ID Peer Requirements Be fluent in state-of-the-art signal technologies Be fluent in older signal technologies Relate how communities have migrated to newer technologies

without losing investment in existing systems Explain why design philosophies are moving in the direction they

are Explain the pros and cons of the various systems

suppliers/components Be current on National ITS Architectural issues Be current on emerging ITS standards What will traffic systems be in 3 to 5 years? … in 8 to10 years? Have experience with signal interfaces including transit, safety and

freeway management systems

…. the list goes on and on and on….

Part 3:The Results - Two Perspectives Colorado Springs, CO

Approach: Retro-fit an older signal system

Oakland County, MI Approach: Start from scratch and build a new signal

system (SCATS)

MORPC FY 2004Planning Work Program Signal system assessment

similar to CMFMS Detailed Project Plan, saving $40+M on build out of CMFMS

Evaluation of system and user perspectives What works, what can work better?

Evaluation of emerging standards Evaluation of new “OTS” technology End product: a new design philosophy

What are the project details? Technical & Operational Assessment

Consultant

Institutional Assessment MORPC / signal stakeholders

RFP: Technical & Operational Assessment A survey of member agencies outlining their agency

standards and existing equipment types/manufacturers in use for: Traffic signal central control system(s) Intersection controller to local master Local master to central monitoring station

An evaluation of available traffic signal control systems stating their relative advantages and disadvantages

RFP: Technical & Operational Assessment (cont’d) Consider suitability, existing examples of systems in use,

and NTCIP compliance of the evaluated systems for implementation of interface to: Signal priority systems Signal preemption systems Columbus Metropolitan Freeway Management System Other agency signal systems ITS systems proposed in the CORTRAN concept, including

advanced traveler information systems

RFP: Technical & Operational Assessment (cont’d) Qualitative assessment to determine ability to

communicate on a variety of media, including: Twisted-pair telephone wire Dial-up telephone connection Fiber-optic cable Coaxial cable Spread-spectrum wireless Other existing or emerging wireless technology TCP/IP via cable modem over public utility ISP Microwave 800/900 MHz

RFP: Technical & Operational Assessment (cont’d) Ability to provide access to the system to member

agencies

Tools included with the system software to optimize signal timings (including signal sequences) for intersections: Included in the CTSS / other systems In an off-line “planning” mode, a real-time or nearly real-time

mode Operator-confirmed download of optimal timing to automatically

download Playback intervals (e.g., historical account of signal

priority/preemption requests)

RFP: Technical & Operational Assessment (cont’d) System cost, including:

Implementation costs Replacement costs Operating costs Maintenance costs Training costs

Resources necessary to operate, including: Operations staff Communications

RFP: Technical & Operational Assessment (cont’d) Simplicity of implementation and use, including:

Fewest number of existing systems that need to be modified

Possibility of partner agencies to have some level of interaction with the system without changing their own controllers, local masters, central system hardware, central system software, etc.

Ability for a new operator to understand the system

RFP: Strategic Plan Development The cost benefits of the preferred alternative

A “strategic plan” for the continued expansion/utilization of the communications network, to include recommendations for type and location for the ultimate/preferred communications network

A “strategic plan” for the upgrade of the central computer system

RFP: Strategic Plan Development (cont’d) A “strategic plan” for prioritization between:

The addition of new intersections to the CTSS The conversion of intersections already on the CTSS to new

technology Modifications to corridors, clusters, other areas, etc., as

appropriate

A “strategic plan” for transitioning/coordinating between existing systems and the recommended new system, developing a plan that includes: Cross-jurisdictional signal timing Signal preemption systems for safety forces: Signal priority systems for transit

RFP: Strategic Plan Development (cont’d) A “strategic plan” for becoming compliant with

the latest versions of the National ITS Architecture and NTCIP standards addressing: Applicability of standards, Proposed status, and How signal systems should achieve compliance with

these standards, related to: Open architecture software Communication protocols

RFP: Strategic Plan Development (cont’d) Develop Costs:

Implementation costs Maintenance costs

Establish resource needs Operations staff Communications

RFP: Early Tasks (November 2003) Evaluate the city of Columbus’s coaxial communications

systems to see whether its basic topology and technology can be the basis for future expansion of the system. The impact of this early task is to confirm that: The Phase 11 signalization project can proceed as scheduled for

sale in January 2005 Design can begin on Phase 12 signalization project for sale in

January 2006

Or, identify easy-to-execute design changes to facilitate the sale of Phase 11 signalization project and the design of Phase 12 signalization project

MORPC Sub-Task (on-going) Investigating Institutional Relationships “Sharing Responsibility in a Regional Traffic

Signal System” Developed by oversight committee Screened by local stakeholders and MORPC’s TAC

Will be administered to signal stakeholders in October

MORPC Sub-Task:Sample Questions Will your agency participate in a cooperative

effort with other agencies to determine the optimum intersection timing strategies, coordination timing plans, etc., to balance stops and delays in cross-jurisdictional corridors?

Signal Timing Related Signal Interconnect Maintenance Related Signal Equipment & Equipment Standards Related Signal Equipment Maintenance Related

MORPC Sub-Task:Sample Questions Will your agency agree to a traffic signal timing plan that

minimizes CORRIDOR stops / delays irrespective of “through-street” designation?

Will your jurisdiction accept coordination timing that is based on a critical intersection in the corridor that is outside your jurisdiction?

Are you willing to participate financially in proportion to your benefit to keep the system (mostly software / computers) running to enable signals to be coordinated regionally?

Will your agency change existing signal equipment to allow for regional signal coordination?

Timeline: When will we see results? RFP Due Date: August 6, 2003

Selection: In process

Early Tasks Due: late November 2003

Project Duration: 12 months

Traffic Signal Oversight Committee Meetings Quarterly, on-going

For Additional Information Erika Witzke, project manager

ewitzke@morpc.org 614.233.4149

Eagan Foster, City of Columbus Mike Meeks, Franklin County Engineers Office Mark Nawrath, COTA Jim Buckson, FHWA