HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-08-10 City Council (24)City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING
DATE:AUGUST 10, 1998 CMR:345:98
SUBJECT:. TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM FEASIBILITY STUDY-STATUS
~ REPORT
This is an informational report. No Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
The Capital Improvement Program (Electric Utility Funds) includes funding to conduct an
assessment of the City’s existing traffic signal control system. While the current system
continues to operate in an acceptable manner, various components are becoming outdated
and are in need of replacement or upgrade. For example, some of the individual intersection
controllers are no longer manufactured or serviceable, the central computer is over ten years
old, and the ability to add new features, such as emergency pre-emption and traffic data
collection, is severely limited.. Therefore, there is a need to improve and upgrade the traffic
signal control system infrastructure,
DISCUSSION
Staff has started the process to retain a consultant to conduct a feasibility study of the City’s
traffic signal system (Phase 1) at an estimated cost of $35,000. The study will include
review of the existing system, development of short-term and long-term goals, identification
of system requirements, development of system concepts, and preparation of an
implementation plan.
Staffhas formed a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) to assist with consultant selection, to
review and comment on the consultant’s work, and ensure that the community members have
an appropriate opportunity to understand the issues and participate in the development of
alternatives. The PAC consists of the following members:
1.Will Beckett
2.Yoriko Kishimoto
3.Casey Emoto
Resident
Resident
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority
CMR:345:98 Page 1 of 2
Staff participating include: Christopher Thnay, Transportation Division; Patrick Valath,
Utilities Engineering~ and Kim Burkel Utilities Electric Operations.
During its review of the 1997-98 list of proposed consultant services over $25,000, neither
the Policy and Services Committee nor the Finance Committee requested the opportunity to
review the scope of services prior to staff beginning the consultant selection process. Staff
has followed the City’s consultant selection process, and has selected Kimley-Hom and
Associates, Inc. as its first choice. Currently; staff is negotiating an agreement with the
consultant, and the consultant is expected to begin work in September 1998. Following
completion of the feasibility study and subject to Council direction and approval,the design
and implementation would follow over a multi-year period.
PREPARED BY: Ashok Aggarwal, Acting Chief Transportation Official
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
ANNE CRONIN MOORE
Interim Director of Planning and
Community Environment
CITY MANAGER
co:
Assistant City Manager
Project Advisory Committee
CMR:345:98 Page 2 of 2