HomeMy WebLinkAboutSS2 - Traffic Signal Coordination ProgramCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Supplemental to Study Session Item No. SS2
January 24, 2006
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
Antony Brine, P.E.
949 -644 -3311
tbrine@cfty.newport-beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC SIGNAL COORDINATION PROGRAM — STATUS REPORT
DISCUSSION:
Currently there are a total of one hundred twenty-five (125) signalized intersections
within the City limits that are operated either by the City or Caltrans. A question has
been raised regarding which traffic signals are currently coordinated, and at what times
of the day. A table has been prepared, and is attached, which shows all of the arterial
roadway segments in the City where there is currently traffic signal coordination.
A summary of the table shows that a total of fifty -one (51) signals are coordinated along
primary and major arterial roadways including Coast Highway, Jamboree Road,
Superior Avenue, Irvine Avenue, Dover Drive, Bristol Street, Balboa Boulevard, and
San Joaquin Hills Road.
All signalized intersections are continually evaluated by staff for operational
improvements, including fine tuning of existing signal timing to improve coordination
with adjacent intersections. The Public Works Department also has plans to implement
coordination on additional arterials, including MacArthur Boulevard.
Environmental Review:
This is an update on ongoing efforts to improve traffic signal operations and is not
considered by CEQA to be a project requiring environmental review.
Prepared by:
Antony Brine, P.E.
Transportation Engineer
Submitted by:
Stephen G. BaduA
Public Works Director
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CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Study Session Item No. ssz
January 24, 2006
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
Richard Edmonston, P.E.
949 - 644 -3311
redmonston@city.newport-beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: TRAFFIC SIGNAL COORDINATION PROGRAM— STATUS REPORT
DISCUSSION:
In 2003, the City retained a consultant and undertook a comprehensive review of every
signalized intersection within the City limits that was operated either by the City or
Caltrans. One hundred twenty-five (125) intersections were evaluated for operational
improvements including how they were timed to be in coordination of the signals at
adjacent intersections. The project included three additional key components: training
staff in the use of coordination software, recommendations for technology upgrades,
and recommendations for operational improvements at highly impacted intersections.
The project was completed in 2004.
Staff has continued to work on implementing the recommendations of the study. Fine
tuning of existing timings, implementing coordination at more locations, and technology
upgrades have been the focus of staff efforts. Examples of these activities include:
• The initial procedure to coordinate the heavy left turn from Coast Highway to
Jamboree Road with the first two signals on Jamboree has proven to be more
complicated than originally assumed. The basic obstacle is that signals along
Coast Highway use a different technology than the equipment the City uses. Our
consultant initially was confident that this obstacle could be overcome by
synchronizing the internal clocks of the two systems. We got permission from
Caltrans to install a GPS clock in their cabinet and then had to hire a software
consultant to write the code and program a chip. Our master signal computer is
known as a Vehicle Management System (VMS) and it is older technology and
cannot accept input from a GPS clock so we had to use a WWV clock.
Unfortunately this "synchronize- the - clocks" approach still did not provide the
consistency needed. We have recently used a former Caltrans employee to
design a circuit that should provide the intended operation. We have purchased
the components and are getting bids from several vendors /contractors to do the
installation.
• We have been working with The Irvine Company during their recent
improvements on Newport Coast Drive north of San Joaquin Hills Road to install
Traffic Synchronization Program — Status Report
January 24, 2006
Page 2
communication cable in the existing, empty conduits. Once completed, this
cable will be connected with existing cabling back to the Newport Coast Fire
Station where we then plan to use Ethernet modems to connect the signals to
the VMS at City Hall.
• Much of our efforts have been focused on identifying newer technology. Our
VMS uses technology that is now nearly 30 years old and the communication
modems we use are of even older vintage. Many other agencies are faced with
the same issues and the industry is responding with new products on an
expedited timeframe. For example, the Ethernet modems we want to use were
available for fiber optic cable, but not for copper wire cable and the City has
miles of copper wire in place. Changing all this copper to fiber represented a
substantial cost to the City. Within the last six months Ethernet modems for use
on copper wires have been developed and last week we implemented a test
using this technology to communicate with a signal controller on the Balboa
peninsula.
• We were successful in getting competitive funds from Measure M for two
projects that will further enhance signal coordination. The first project will
provide for a replacement Master system for the VMS, installation of new signal
controllers, and coordination of the traffic signals along MacArthur Boulevard.
The second project will install new signal controllers at the twelve intersections
along Coast Highway that the City took over from Caltrans along with conduit
and communication cable to connect them to an Ethernet hub at the Police
Department. Each of these projects will receive $250,000 of competitive
Measure M funding. Design of these two projects has been briefly delayed while
we have investigated products from a number of vendors. We have had onsite
or offsite demonstrations from five vendors and have narrowed it down to two
from which we expect to make a final decision within the next month or so.
The Public Works Department has been actively pursuing the goal of improved traffic
signal operations on several fronts. We look forward to the implementation of new
technology which will have greater capabilities and be more reliable than our current
system. We will be operating both the old and new systems until we get all the signals
converted over and this will undoubtedly be challenging period.
Environmental Review:
This is an update on ongoing efforts to improve traffic signal operations and is not
considered by CEQA to be a project requiring environmental review.
Prepared by: ! Submitted b
Richard Edmonston, P.E. S hen . Badum
Transportation and Development Public Works Director
Services Manager