DEPARTMENT: Finance
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Troy Elliott
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
School Zone Communication System
SUMMARY:
This ordinance authorizes a one-time purchase with Paradigm Traffic Systems, Inc. to provide the Public Works Department with communication equipment to be deployed at existing school zones for a total cost of $247,292.50. Funding is available from the FY 2021 Adopted General Fund Budget and the FY 2021 School Pedestrian Safety Project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Submitted for City Council consideration and action is the offer submitted by Paradigm Traffic Systems, Inc., for the one-time purchase of school zone communication hardware and software manufactured by Applied Information to replace and upgrade equipment at ninety-one locations. This equipment is required to communicate with the Transportation and Infrastructure Management Center which monitors the school zone communication flasher system. This system enables school zone flashers to operate according to the school hours provided by each school district and allows the flasher's operation to be adapted to unexpected changes such as bad weather days and more recently closures due to COVID-19.
The Public Works Department's Transportation and Infrastructure Management Center (TIMC) utilizes school zone communication equipment to ensure that the school zone flashers are programmed and operating properly. Using this system, operators in the TIMC are alerted when a school flasher is not operating allowing a maintenance crew to be dispatched as soon as possible to correct the issue in order to minimize the amount of time that the flashers are inoperable.
The equipment being purchased utilizes a wireless modem and web based software to communicate with the TIMC and will replace currently deployed radio based technology. Staff from the Public Works Department tested school zone communication equipment from three manufacturers. Based upon this testing, the equipm...
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