HomeMy WebLinkAbout22 - Battery Back-Up for Traffic SignalsJuly 10, 2001
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
ITEM NO. 22
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Public Works Department
SUBJECT: BATTERY BACK -UP FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Direct staff to solicit bids for the installation of battery back -up systems for traffic
signals at key intersections.
2. Select the intersection groups to receive battery back -up systems as shown on
Exhibits A and B.
DISCUSSION:
During the Study Session of June 26, 2001, the City Council directed staff to return with
a program to install battery back -up systems for traffic signals at key intersections. One
concern the City Council expressed was the need to use a battery back -up that was
capable of operating the signal in normal operation on the major arterials. There was
concern that a system capable of only operating the signals in a flashing red mode
would lead to considerable congestion and would interfere with the movement of
emergency vehicles.
Staff has contacted all of the known vendors of this type of equipment in order to
become familiar with each company's capabilities, space requirements, and costs.
Several minimum requirements have been discussed with each vendor. The battery
back -up system must be capable of running one and one -half hour of normal operation
followed by a minimum of three hours of flashing red operation. They must be capable
of operating the Emergency Vehicle Pre -empt (EVP) while in normal operation. Finally,
the systems must fit within the existing signal controller cabinet.
There are twenty -one signals along Coast Highway and Caltrans expects to install
battery back -up systems at all of them, but probably only at two or three locations in the
near future. Caltrans will issue a permit for the City to install the systems and will return
them to the City at the time they install their own equipment. These locations have
previously been converted to all LED indications which require minimal power to
operate. The estimated cost to install systems to provide full operation at every
intersection on Coast Highway is $75,000.
There are eight signals on Jamboree Road between Coast Highway and Bristol Street
and four City operated signals along MacArthur Boulevard between Coast Highway and
Bison Avenue. These signals have LED's for the red indications, but not for the greens.
The estimated cost to add green LED's and install the battery back -up systems to
provide full operation for these twelve intersections is $100,000.
SUBJECT: BATTERY BACK -UP FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS
July 10, 2001
Page 2
The City of Newport Beach operates seven signals along Irvine Avenue between
Westcliff Drive and Mesa Drive. All of these with the exception of the signal at Santiago
Drive are shared with either Costa Mesa or the County. It is likely that these agencies
would pay their pro -rata share of the cost to upgrade these locations. The total cost,
including green LED's, is estimated to be $60,000.
The City and Caltrans jointly operate a six signal system on Newport Boulevard from
30th Street to Hospital Road. Staff recommends these locations be outfitted with battery
back -up systems to provide normal signal operation. These six locations require LED
upgrades as well and the estimated cost is $50,000
The traffic signal at Avocado Avenue and San Miguel is very busy and should be
considered for a back -up system that will provide full operation. The cost for this
location is $8,000.
Twelve signals are listed on Exhibit B as locations where staff recommends a battery
back -up system adequate to provide flashing red operation. These locations typically
have moderate volumes of traffic, but speeds at most of them exceed 45 MPH. The
cost to provide a battery back -up for flashing operation at these intersections is
estimated to be $45,000.
Exhibit A is a summary of the locations, by group, under consideration for battery back-
up systems. The groups are listed in priority order and the City Council is requested to
pick the groups it would like staff to solicit bids for. Staff recommends a separate bid
for the Caltrans signals along Coast Highway as these can be brought on line faster
since the green indications have already been changed to LED's. LED delivery is
taking about two or three weeks longer than the battery back -up system delivery.
It is recommended that the purchase of battery back -up systems be funded by the
Circulation and Transportation Fund. The balance in this fund is adequate to cover the
costs of this program including the upgrade to green LED signals where required to
have normal signal operation. Battery back -up systems use a series of batteries,
typically four, to supply power. It is difficult to get vendors to commit to the expected life
of these batteries, but it ranges between two and five years. Assuming an average life
of three years, the annualized maintenance cost of the batteries for all locations on
Exhibit A is $8000. This would be a charge to the General Fund under the current fiscal
structure for traffic signal maintenance.
Respectfully submitted, =l l ��
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Don Webb, Director
By: riv�a
Ri hard M. Edmonston
Transportation and Development Services Manager
Attachment. Exhibits A and B
EXHIBIT A
BATTERY BACK -UP PRIORITY LISTING
Estimated Cumulative
Grou p Description W of intersections) Cost Cost
I Coast Highway (21) $ 75,000
Jamboree Road — Coast Hwy. to Bristol St. (8) 65,000
MacArthur BI. — Coast Hwy. to Bison Ave. (4) 35,000
Subtotal $175,000 $175,000
II Irvine Avenue — Westcliff Dr. to Mesa Drive (7) 60,000 $235,000
III Newport Blvd. - 30`h St. to Hospital Rd. (6) 50,000 $285,000
IV
Avocado Avenue at San Miguel Drive
8,000
$293,000
V
Exhibit B locations (12) — flashing operation
45,000
$338,000
EXHIBIT B
FLASHING RED INTERSECTIONS
San Joaquin Hills Road @ Spyglass Hill Road
Marguerite Avenue
Crown Drive North
San Miguel Drive
Santa Rosa /Big Canyon
Santa Cruz/Big Canyon
MacArthur Blvd @ Birch Street
Von Karman Avenue
Hospital Road @ Placentia Avenue
Superior Avenue
Superior Avenue @ Ticonderoga /Nice