Innovative System Communication Design and

Traffic Signal Synchronization Solutions for San Bernardino

2012 ITE District 6 Annual Conference

Leo Lee, PEADVANTEC Consulting Engineers

&

Philip ChuSANBAG

June 27, 2012

Maximizing ‘Bang for the Buck’Through Engineering

• Subject – Improving Operational Efficiency of our Roadway Network

• The Process – Traffic Signal Synchronization

• The Project – San Bernardino County Tier 3 and 4 Traffic Signal System

The Issue• Currently there are more than 272,000 traffic signals

in the USA– All need signal timing updates regularly– Los Angeles ranked no. 1 in America’s Most Congested Cities

(source TTI):• over 70 hours annual delay per traveler; • 366,969 excess gallons of gas

• Delay, speed, fuel consumption and air pollution can be improved by:-– Synchronizing Traffic Signals– Providing traffic signal systems for agencies to monitor traffic

operations

The Process• Synchronizing Traffic Signals

– Allows maximum operational efficiency of existing roadways

– Utilizes the existing roadway capacity most effectively– Reduces delay– Reduces stops– Improves speed– Reduces gas consumption– Reduces pollutant emissions– MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN BUILDING NEW

INFRASTRUCTURE!!

The Project • San Bernardino Associated Governments

(SANBAG) Comprehensive Traffic Signal System– More than 1,200 traffic signals – 15 jurisdictions, including Caltrans– 545 under Tiers 1 and 2 – completed in 2009– 678 more in Tiers 3 and 4 currently under way

Tier 3 and 4 ProjectSan Bernardino County Comprehensive Traffic Signal System

Chino & Chino Hills,Caltrans

Upland, Rancho Cucamonga,

Ontario

Fontana, Rialto

Colton, San Bernardino City,

Highland,Loma Linda,

San Bernardino County

Redlands,Yucaipa,Caltrans

Tier 3 and 4 ProjectSan Bernardino County

Comprehensive Traffic Signal System

Background

– 15 agencies have different traffic signal systems

– ‘Traditional’ signal interconnect are incomplete and expensive

– Need to provide ‘cheap’ solution

Answer : WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

Wireless Communication Options

Technology Frequency Band Range Data Rates Advantages Disadvantages Estimated Cost

Spread Spectrum Serial

902-928 MHz, 2400-2483.5 MHz, 5725-5850 MHz

2 miles Up to 256 Kbps

Available from multiple vendors

Requires line of sight, serial interface, limited bandwidth for future use

$2,000 Base + $2,000 Each additional intersection

Spread Spectrum Ethernet

5-7 miles Up to 1 Gbps

Higher bandwidth for future expansion, available from multiple vendors, ease of installation and operation

Requires line of sight, susceptible to interference

$2,000 Base + $ 400 Each additional intersection

Wi-Fi 300 feet 1-11 Mbps by distance

Increased security vs Wireless Ethernet

Short range

$1,100 Base + $ 580 Each additional intersection

WiMAX 6 miles 40 Mbps

Larger coverage, more users, scalable quality of service, faster data rates than WiFi

Equipment is more expensive up front

$2,800 Base + $ 500 Each additional intersection

Mesh Network 3 miles per link

54 Mbps Self healing, lower power consumption, increased data rates

Need more access points

$2,700 Base + $2,700 Each additional intersection

VHF (Very High Frequency) / UHF (Ultra High Frequency

VHF 30 MHz-300 MHz UHF 300 MHz-3 GHz

hundreds of miles

10 Kbps No interference

Licensed frequencies and equipment needs to be higher to provide adequate coverage. Equipment is expensive.

$8,000 Base + $6,000 Each additional intersection

Cellular Radio 824 - 896 MHz & 1850-1990 MHz

20 miles 9.6 Kbps Ease of installation and integration

Reoccurring leased service costs

$450 Base + $20-$35 Monthly fee

Summary of Technology• Serial-Radios

– Conform to existing communications infrastructure– Low bandwidth– Low maintenance and operations costs

• Serial Radio Example– Many Cities currently use serial radios, e.g. Encom

Summary of Technology• IP-Radios

– Ease of management and maintenance– High bandwidth (can support CCTV)– No polling rate issues– State-of-the-art technology

• IP-Radio Example– Many IP-Radios have proven to be reliable, e.g. Alvarion, Proxim,

Motorola.

Summary of Technology• Cellular Radio Modems

– For trunk communications between master radio and TMC– For remote locations

• Serial / IP Platform– Several manufacturers support both platforms, e.g. Raven

XT

Ethernet versus Serial Communications

• Ethernet Technologies– Tremendous technological progress in the past 10 years– Many cities migrating from serial towards Ethernet– Can achieve higher bandwidth (and speed)– Can transmit video over radio

• Converting Serial to Ethernet– Need terminal servers at controllers– Need virtual communications ports at TMC, or– Upgrade traffic management systems software that

supports Ethernet (e.g. QuicNet Pro, Centracs)

Requirements for full migration towards Ethernet

Agency ControllersTraffic Signal

System

Communications

Supported

Requirements for migrating towards Ethernet?

Colton 170 QuicNet1 Serial If upgraded to QuicNet Pro, and need to upgrade to 170ATC or 2070 controllers

Highland 170/2070 QuicNet Pro Serial/Ethernet Need to upgrade to 170ATC or 2070 controllers

Loma Linda 170 QuicNet1 Serial If upgraded to QuicNet Pro, and need to upgrade to 170ATC or 2070 controllers

Ontario ASC/2/8000/KMC-8000, Traconex

Icons/Aries Serial Need to migrate to Centracs or i2, and replace controllers with ASC/3 or 2070

Redlands Naztec 900/Eagle 2070/170 N/A N/A Need to implement a traffic signal system that is IP based, and upgrade controllers to 2070

Rialto 170ATC, ASC/2/2S/3/8000, Traconex , Synchronex

Aries/QuicNet1 Serial/Serial If upgraded to QuicNet Pro, and need to upgrade to 170ATC or 2070 controllers

San Bernardino 170/2070 QuicNet1 Serial If upgraded to QuicNet Pro, and need to upgrade to 170ATC or 2070 controllers

San Bernardino Co.

ASC/2/2M/2S/3. Eagle EPAC M52, Traconex

Aries/QuicNet1 Serial/serial If upgraded to QuicNet Pro, and need to upgrade to 170ATC or 2070 controllers

Upland 170/2070 QuicNet Pro Serial/Ethernet If upgraded to QuicNet Pro, and need to upgrade to 170ATC or 2070 controllers

Yucaipa 170/2070 N/A N/A Need to implement a traffic signal system that is IP based, and upgrade controllers to 2070

1 Upgrade to QuicNet Pro maybe planned.

Requirements for full migration towards Ethernet

Agency ControllersTraffic Signal System

Communications

Supported

Requirements for migrating towards Ethernet?

Caltrans 170 CTNet Serial Caltrans need to develop Ethernet capabilities within CTNet

Chino ASC/2/3S/8000 Aries Serial Need to upgrade to Centracs (or other systems), and replace controllers with ASC/3

Chino Hills ASC/2/2S/8000 Aries Serial Need to upgrade to Centracs (or other systems), and replace controllers with ASC/3

Fontana ASC/2/2S/3/8000 Aries Serial Need to upgrade to Centracs (or other systems), and replace controllers with ASC/3

Rancho Cucamonga

170/170E/ASC/3/2/2M/2S/8000, CSC

T-1, Traconex

Aries Serial Need to upgrade to Centracs (or other systems), and replace controllers with ASC/3

Topography Profile

• Intersections and Paths Being Analyzed– See highlighted path shown above

• Topography Profiles– Shown on the bottom half of the illustration– Used to determine any land elevation obstructions

Wireless Communication Path Diagrams

• Equipment required– The diagrams indicate the equipment needed for each

intersection– Intended to be a generic design that can be adapted to

each City’s equipment selection

Project Cost

• 250 intersections equipped with wireless comm.

• 150 intersections with new controllers

• 87 cellular modems

• Hardware upgrade = $4M

• Average cost = $16,000/intersection

Questions??