DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative Grant
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the submission of an application to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative Grant for the San Antonio Traveler Resource Information Portal (SATRIP) Project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City recently developed a growth focused Strategic Multi-Modal Transportation Plan designed to direct infrastructure investments toward transportation projects which will have the most beneficial impact on the community’s transportation network. This strategic plan aligns perfectly with the Federal Highway Administration’s Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) funding opportunity and would allow San Antonio to leverage federal funds to improve safety, efficiency, and system performance through the use of advanced technologies.
As the fastest growing city of the nation’s 10 largest cities, San Antonio’s population is projected to increase by over 1 million residents by the year 2040. This explosive growth will significantly increase the pressure on the City’s transportation network. The City’s transportation plan has identified the importance of modern technologies to maintain and improve the efficiency of existing infrastructure in the face of the growing population. The submitted proposal will help enhance the city’s existing Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) through the use of real-time data, integrate the city’s flood detection system to the ATMS, develop enhanced pedestrian safety technology, and develop ways to provide better traveler information to the citizens and transportation partners.
TCI applied for these grant funds to begin in FY 2018. Therefore matching funds will be identified during the development of the FY 2018 budget. Award announcements are anticipated this September 2016. If the City is awarded funds, TCI would return to City Council for approval to accept the funds and identify the matching funds, contingent on the inclusion and approval of the FY 2018 budget by City Council.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the submission of an application to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative Grant for the San Antonio Traveler Resource Information Portal (SATRIP) Project. This grant would help enhance the city’s existing Advanced Transportation Management System (ATMS) through the use of real-time data, integrate the city’s flood detection system to the ATMS, develop enhanced pedestrian safety technology, and develop ways to provide better traveler information to the citizens and transportation partners.
If awarded, the City could receive $1,500,000.00 in federal funds and would be required to provide matching funds in the amount of $1,500,000.00. The funding would be used to for the following tasks:
• Installation of advanced detection technology and traffic monitoring cameras at 22 signalized intersections along the Blanco Rd. corridor between Wilderness Oak and Loop 410 and the Military Dr. corridor from Bynum Ave. to Interstate 37. The data provided by these devices will be used to improve overall travel time on the corridor during nominal and incident conditions. In addition, the data will be shared with partner agencies and travelers on the corridors.
• Integration of the High Water Detection System into the ATMS and the installation blank out signs and traffic monitoring cameras at six pilot intersections. This integration will improve dissemination of current flooding conditions to travelers and allow conditions at flooded locations to remotely observed to ensure that the response is timely and appropriate.
• Implementation of a Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Pilot Project at five intersections that will demonstrate the use of advanced pedestrian detection technology to help reduce the number of pedestrian related injuries and fatalities and move the City closer to the goals outlined by the Vision Zero initiative.
• Development of a portal to share information with travelers to increase the number of mode and route changes based on real-time data in order to reduce overall trip travel time.
TCI seeks the opportunity to receive funding from The USDOT to improve the safety, congestion and mobility for all modes of transportation. A grant award date has not been identified by US DOT, but staff will continue to monitor the updates provided by the agency.
TCI applied for these grant funds to begin in FY 2018. Therefore matching funds will be identified during the development of the FY 2018 budget. Award announcements are anticipated this September 2016. If the City is awarded funds, TCI would return to City Council for approval to accept the funds and identify the matching funds, contingent on the inclusion and approval of the FY 2018 budget by City Council.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to authorize the approval to seek this grant. However, the City would miss an opportunity to obtain approximately $1,500,000.00 in federal funds for the implementation of the San Antonio Traveler Resource Information Portal (SATRIP) Project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
City Council action to submit the application does not commit any funds. A match of $1,500,000 will be required in a future fiscal year if the City is chosen for the award.
TCI applied for these grant funds to begin in FY 2018. Therefore matching funds will be identified during the development of the FY 2018 budget. Award announcements are anticipated this September 2016. If the City is awarded funds, TCI would return to City Council for approval to accept the funds and identify the matching funds, contingent on the inclusion and approval of the FY 2018 budget by City Council.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the submission of an application to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) Initiative Grant for the San Antonio Traveler Resource Information Portal (SATRIP) Project.