meeting notice and agenda · 2004. 11. 10. · meeting notice and agenda san diego regional traffic...

MEETING NOTICE AND AGENDA

SAN DIEGO REGIONAL TRAFFIC ENGINEER’S COUNCIL The San Diego Regional Traffic Engineer’s Council may take action on any item appearing on this agenda. Thursday, November 18, 2004 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. SANDAG, 8th Floor Conference Room A 401 B Street, Suite 800 San Diego, CA 921101-4231 Staff Contact: Alex Estrella (619) 699-1928 aes@sandag.org CHAIR: Din Daneshfar, City of National City VICE CHAIR: Ed Domingue, City of Escondido SANDAG offices are accessible by public transit. Phone 1-800-COMMUTE or see www.sdcommute.com for route information. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), SANDAG will accommodate persons who require assistance in order to participate in SANDAG meetings. If such assistance is required, please contact SANDAG at (619) 595-5300 at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. To request this document or related reports in an alternative format, please call (619) 699-1900, (619) 699-1904 (TTY), or fax (619) 699-1905

SAN DIEGO REGIONAL TRAFFIC ENGINEER’S COUNCIL Thursday, November 18, 2004

ITEM # ACTION

1. Introductions

+ 2. Meeting Summary

SANTEC is asked to review and approve the meeting notes of the October 14, 2004 meeting.

APPROVE

3. Comments from the Public

+ 4. SANTEC Membership (Alex Estrella)

SANDAG staff will present proposed additions to SANTEC’s membership. This is a follow-up item from the October 14, 2004 meeting. The item focused on the addition of NCTD and MTS to SANTEC’s agency membership in order to be in line with the Transportation Committee membership structure. Attached is a summary memo.

APPROVE

+ 5. Regional Arterial Management System (RAMS) Project Update (Richard Chavez)

As requested at the last SANTEC meeting held on October 14, 2004, SANDAG staff will give an informational update on the Regional Arterial Management System (RAMS) project. RAMS will allow for interjurisdictional coordination of traffic signals throughout the region. Attached is a summary memo.

INFORMATION

+ 6. Traffic Count Database (Bill McFarlane)

SANDAG staff is proposing the development of a uniform system for reporting and storing traffic counts. SANDAG staff presented this proposal to CTAC at their November 4 meeting. CTAC supported the proposal that SANDAG work with SANTEC to form an Ad Hoc Working Group to initiate the development of such a system. SANTEC is asked to appoint members to this AD Hoc Working Group. A summary memo is attached.

APPOINT

+7. Upcoming Agenda Items (Alex Estrella)

Attached is a list of upcoming agenda items.

INFORMATION

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ITEM # ACTION

8. Traffic Signal Optimization Program: Project Bid Item Inventory

Various agencies will present information on recent bids for traffic signal projects.

INFORMATION

9. Matters from Members

SANTEC members may bring topics of general interest to the Council.

INFORMATION

+ next to an agenda item indicates an attachment. The next SANTEC meeting is scheduled for December 9, 2004.

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S A N T E C

SAN DIEGO REGIONAL TRAFFIC ENGINEER’S COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 14, 2004

ATTENDEES: Please see attached Sign In Sheet DISCUSSION: 1. Introductions The attendees of the meeting introduced themselves at the request of the Cha 2. Approval of Meeting Summary

The motioned was made and seconded to approve the SANTEC meetSeptember 9, 2004. Motion passed.

3. Comments from the Public

There were no comments from the public. 4. New McCain Systems Project Manager

SANTEC members were introduced to Ken Recchia from McCain Systems. Ken the McCain Systems staff as the new project manager for the Regional ArterialSystem (RAMS) project. Ken Recchia stated that as the new project mcommitted to working with all agencies in assuring that the RAMS project implemented including providing the necessary Bi Trans user support fKen Recchia announced that McCain Systems has specifically added Steve Brofor this effort. Several SANTEC members expressed that they have already technical assistance and are very pleased with Steve Brown’s perfresponsiveness.

SANTEC members were encouraged to contact Ken Recchia or Stev(760) 727-8100 for any issues, questions, and system user support. Ken Recchreached via e-mail at krecchia@mccaintraffic.com.

5. SANTEC Membership

SANDAG staff introduced this item and referenced the corresponding memSANTEC staff membership list provided in Table 1. The following key issues wSANDAG staff during the discussion of the memorandum:

• SANDAG staff requested that each agency review their respected agency currently listed in the SANTEC member list and provide any updated inecessary. This information is being requested in order to clarify and SANTEC member and alternate roster that will serve as the SANTEC desigvoting member.

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Agenda Item #

irman.

ing notes of

Recchia joined Management anager, he is is successfully or QuicNet/4. wn to its staff received some ormance and

e Brown at ia can also be

orandum and ere raised by

representative nformation as formalize the nated agency

mailto:krecchia@mccaintraffic.com

• SANDAG staff indicated that two additional agencies have been added to the SANTEC membership roster. The agencies are the North County Transit District and the Metropolitan Transit System.

• SANDAG staff also stated that SANTEC is subject to the Brown Act. Additionally, SANTEC members were notified that SANDAG’s legal staff is in the process of reviewing all SANDAG committees and may be coming back to SANTEC in future meetings for potential revisions to SANTEC’s bylaws.

The following key points were raised by SANTEC members following staff’s discussion:

• SANTEC members expressed concern over the addition of NCTD and MTS representatives as voting SANTEC members. SANTEC members inquired about the current SANTEC membership provisions in the SANTEC bylaws and requested an explanation for adding NCTD and MTS to SANTEC’s membership list.

• SANDAG staff indicated that since SANTEC is a standing subcommittee of SANDAG, individual voting members and alternates per agency needed to be identified and approved for compliance with the Brown Act. Furthermore, staff explained that the additions to the SANTEC membership are based on SANDAG’s overall efforts for assuring that all standing subcommittees are in line with the current structure of the Transportation Committee. Staff indicated that the current Transportation Committee structure includes voting representation from both NCTD and MTS.

• SANTEC members voiced concern that adding the transit districts would limit the amount of funds available for traffic signal related improvements.

• SANDAG staff stated that the addition of transit districts to SANTEC would not affect the fund availability.

• Some SANTEC members agreed that the addition of transit districts to the SANTEC membership roster would benefit SANTEC because it would reflect a larger vision that includes traffic operation improvements for modes other than automobiles.

• SANTEC members agreed to finalize the SANTEC membership roster but requested that the issue of adding NCTD and MTS as voting agencies be postponed for further discussion until the next SANTEC meeting on November 18, 2004. SANDAG staff agreed to bring back and discuss the addition of NCTD and MTS to the existing SANTEC membership roster at the November 18, 2004 meeting.

SANTEC members proceeded with providing the name for the designated voting representative and alternate for each agency. The motioned was made and seconded to approve the designated agency voting member and alternate list under the current SANTEC membership structure. The addition of NCTD and MTS to the SANTEC membership structure will be discussed at the November 18, 2004 meeting.

6. CMAQ Traffic Signal Optimization Program Reserve Project Funding Request

SANDAG staff introduced this item and provided an overview of all the project applications requesting CMAQ Traffic Signal Optimization Program reserve funds. Due to the extensive

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discussion and corresponding action taken by SANTEC in the previous item, the review and consideration for funding was limited to the submittal of an existing project by the City of Lemon Grove. Funding request for new project submittals were postponed and recommended to be further discussed in future SANTEC meetings.

City of Lemon Grove staff (Majed Al-Ghafry) presented the city’s request for funds from the program reserve balance for a total of $107,000. SANDAG staff indicated that the city is only eligible for $62,300 under the established CMAQ traffic signal reserve allocation procedures. City staff indicated that the full amount would be needed in order to provide a complete and operational traffic signal interconnect system and that SANTEC has taken action on providing funding beyond the eligibility amount in previous funding actions. The requested funding would allow the city to complete Phases II, III, and IV of the traffic signal interconnect project currently under construction. The funds will cover construction activities for Phase VI, install radio interconnect along Lemon Grove Avenue, implement an integrated traffic signal timing database, and undertake a micro-simulation evaluation of at-grade crossing at the intersection of Broadway and Lemon Grove Avenue. Motion was made and seconded to approve the of City of Lemon Grove’s request for $107,000. SANDAG staff indicated that SANTEC’s action on this item including approval of funding will subject to SANDAG’s legal council review of the voting membership action taken in the previous item. As additional and detailed information becomes available from SANDAG’s legal staff, it will be forwarded to SANTEC. Post Note: staff followed up on this issue and it was determined that the City of Lemon Grove can proceed with seeking funding authorization.

7. Upcoming Agenda Items

SANTEC members reviewed the list of upcoming agenda items included in the meeting packet. SANDAG staff announced that the November SANTEC meeting was re-scheduled to November 18, 2004, due to Veteran’s Day holiday on November 11, 2004. SANDAG staff indicated that the items listed for the upcoming meeting on November 18, will be revised to reflect a follow-up discussion on the addition of NCTD and MTS to the SANTEC membership structure and an update on the Regional Arterial Management System (RAMS) project as requested by SANTEC members.

8. Traffic Signal Optimization Program: Project Bid Item Inventory

There were no bid items presented at the meeting.

9. Matters from Members Bob Johnson of the City of Carlsbad requested information on pedestrian signal heads currently used by local agencies. The leading technologies currently used by most agencies as discussed by SANTEC members included the Polaris or Novax technologies.

The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Attachment 1

SANTEC – SIGN IN SHEET FOR OCTOBER 14, 2004

Verify attendance by placing an X next to your name. If your name is not listed, please add at the end of this sheet.

X

Name

Representing

Phone / Fax #

E-Mail

X Ahmed Aburahmah San Diego 619-533-3141 619 533-3131

aaburahmah@sandiego.gov

X Alex Estrella SANDAG 619 699-1928 aes@sandag.org

Ann French Gonsalves San Diego 619-446-5294 619-446-5499

agonsalves@sandiego.gov

X Art Brown Vista 760-726-1340 (1386)/ 760-639-6112

abrown@ci.vista.ca.us

X Barbara Balch Caltrans 858-616-6525 barbara_balch@dot.ca.gov

Barry Johnson Imperial Beach

X Jack Boda SANDAG 619-699-6930 jbo@sandag.org

X Bruce Grafrath Escondido 760-839-4833 / 760-839-4597

bgrafrath@ci.escondido.ca.us

Cameron Berkuti La Mesa 619-667-1171 / 619-667-1380

cberkuti@ci.la-mesa.ca.us

X Cindee Feaver Caltrans 858-467-3056 / 858-467-3014

cindee.feaver@dot.ca.gov

X Dale Wilson Caltrans 619-688-3248 / 619-688-0156

dale-wilson@dot.ca.gov

Dan Marum URS 619-557-0580 dan_marum@urscorp.com

Dave Bruggeman Lee Engineering 602-618-0406 dbruggeearthlink.net

X Dave Johnson Coronado 619-522-7800 / 619-522-0405

djohnson@coronado.ca.us

Dave Kaplan Chula Vista 619-691-5029 dkaplan@ci.chula-vista.ca.us

dth\SANTEC SIGN IN SHEET 7

mailto:abrown@ci.vista.ca.us

Attachment 1

SANTEC – SIGN IN SHEET FOR OCTOBER 14, 2004

Verify attendance by placing an X next to your name. If your name is not listed, please add at the end of this sheet.

X

Name

Representing

Phone / Fax #

E-Mail

David Sorenson Kimley-Horn 619-744-0105 619-234-9433

dave.sorenson@kimley-horn.com

X Dennis Barnes Santee 619-258-4100 x189 / 619-562-9376

dbarnes@ci.santee.ca.us

Dennis Thompson SANDAG 619-595-5325 / 619-595-5305

dth@sandag.org

X Din Daneshfar National City 619-336-4382 ddaneshfar@ci.national-city.ca.us

Don Bullock NCTD 760-967-3804 dbullock@nctd.org

X Duncan Hughes San Diego 619-533-3757 drhughes@sandiego.gov

X Ed Domingue Escondido 760-839-4813 / 760-839-4597

edomingue@ci.escondido.ca.us

X Ed Krulikowski El Cajon 619-441-1651 ekrulikowski@ci.el-cajon.ca.us

Ed Walton Coronado 619-522-7385 ewalton@coronado.ca.us

X Gary Pence San Diego 619-533-3765 GPence@sandiego.gov

Gary Vettese Caltrans 858-616-6523 858-616-6532

gary_vettese@dot.ca.gov

X Gena Franco San Marcos 760-744-1050 / 760-591-4135

gfranco@ci.san-marcos.ca.us

Giselle Finley County of San Diego

Hamed Hashemian La Mesa 619-667-1153

X Hank Morris County 858-874-4013 858-874-4028

henry.morris@sdcounty.ca.gov

dth\SANTEC SIGN IN SHEET 8

mailto:Edominque@ci.escondido.ca.usmailto:pvo@ci.oceanside.ca.us

Attachment 1

SANTEC – SIGN IN SHEET FOR OCTOBER 14, 2004

Verify attendance by placing an X next to your name. If your name is not listed, please add at the end of this sheet.

X

Name

Representing

Phone / Fax #

E-Mail

X Jaime Osorio Vista 760-726-1340 X 1387

josorio@ci.vista.ca.us

Jie Xiao San Diego 619-533-3784 jxiao@sandiego.gov

X Jim Greenstein Solana Beach 858-720-2476 jgreenstein@cosb.org

John Keating Del Mar 619-299-3090 619-299-7041 (fax)

keating@llgengineers.com

John Kim Carlsbad 760-602-2757 jkim@ci.carlsbad.ca.us

Jon Collins Poway/Kimley-Horn 619-744-0121 jon.collins@kimley-horn.com

Karel Shaffer County of San Diego 858-874-4024 858-874-4028

karel.shaffer@sdcounty.ca.gov

X Kathy Feilen La Mesa 619-667-1144 kfeilen@ci.la-mesa.ca.us

Linda Marabian San Diego 619-236-6496 lmarabian@sandiego.gov

X Majed Al-Ghafry Lemon Grove 619-825-3810 mghafry@ci.lemon-grove.ca.us

Mario Oropeza SANDAG 619-595-5369 mor@sandag.org

Mario Sanchez City of Santee 619-258-4100 X 190

msanchez@ci.santee.ca.us

X Maureen Gardiner City of San Diego 619-236-7225 mgardiner@sandiego.gov

Mike Boraks NCTD 760-966-6544 760-922-0904

mboraks@nctd.org

Mike Kinnard La Mesa 619-667-1155 mkinnard@ci.la-mesa.ca.us

dth\SANTEC SIGN IN SHEET 9

mailto:jkim@ci.carlsbad.ca.usmailto:mor@sandag.org

Attachment 1

SANTEC – SIGN IN SHEET FOR OCTOBER 14, 2004

Verify attendance by placing an X next to your name. If your name is not listed, please add at the end of this sheet.

X

Name

Representing

Phone / Fax #

E-Mail

X Mike Robinson County of San Diego 858-874-4121 Michael.Robinson@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Minjie Mei San Diego 619-533-3095 meu@sdcity.sannet.gov

Nasser Abboud San Diego 619 236-6582 nabboud@sandiego.gov

Nick Ortiz County, DPW 858-495-5488 Francisco.ortiz@sdcounty.ca.gov

Omar Dayani San Marcos 760-744-1050 X3255

odayani@ci.san-marcos.co.us

Paul Pace Oceanside 760-435-5078 ppace@ci.oceanside.ca.us

Paul Vo San Marcos 760-744-1050 pvo@ci.san-marcos.ca.us

X Rafael Munoz Lemon Grove

X Richard Chavez SANDAG 619-699-6989 / 619-699-1905

rch@sandag.org

Rob Blough Encinitas

X Robert T. Johnson, Jr. Carlsbad 760-602-2752 / 760-602-8562

bjohn@ci.carlsbad.ca.us

Sam Morrissey URS 619-557-3580 sam_morrissey@urscorp.com

Samir Hajjiri San Diego 619-533-4546 shajjiri@sandiego.gov

X Samir M. Nuhaily City of Chula Vista 619-691-5116 snuhaily@ci.chula-vista.ca.us

X Steve Celniker SANDAG 619-699-6985 sce@sandag.org

dth\SANTEC SIGN IN SHEET 10

mailto:meu@sdcity.sannet.govmailto:ppace@ci.oceanside.ca.usmailto:pvo@ci.oceanside.ca.usmailto:scelniker@sandiego.gov

Attachment 1

SANTEC – SIGN IN SHEET FOR OCTOBER 14, 2004

Verify attendance by placing an X next to your name. If your name is not listed, please add at the end of this sheet.

X

Name

Representing

Phone / Fax #

E-Mail

Tait Galloway San Diego 619 533-4550 tgalloway@sandiego.gov

Taylor Coffroth El Cajon 619-441-1654 tcoffroth@ci.el-cajon.ca.us

Tom Parry County of San Diego 858-874-4009 thomas.parry@sdcounty.ca.gov

Trev Holman El Cajon 619-441-1665 619-597-5254

tholman@ci.el-cajon.ca.us

Trish Smith County of San Diego 858-874-4076 patricia.smith@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Walt Huffman San Diego 619-533-3176 / 619-533-3651

whuffman@sandiego.gov

X Zoubir Ouadah Poway 858-668-4640 zouadah@ci.poway.ca.us

Brian Kruse County of San Diego 858-874-4032 Brian.kruse@sdcounty.ca.gov

Dayue Zhang San Diego 619-533-3093 / 619-533-3651

dzhang@sandiego.gov

Husam Hasenin San Diego 619-533-3198 / 619-533-3651

hhasenin@sandiego.gov

Jon Hannasch San Diego 619-533-3865 jhannasch@sandiego.gov

Jim Murray Carlsbad 760-602-2734

Kim Kawada SANDAG 619-699-6994 619-699-1905

kka@sandag.org

Glenn Grayson MMA/Iteris 702-384-2525 geg@iteris.com

X Eddie Flores San Diego 619-533-3761 eflores@sandiego.gov

dth\SANTEC SIGN IN SHEET 11

mailto:larmendariz@ci.poway.ca.usmailto:kka@sandag.orgmailto:geg@iteris.commailto:eflores@sandiego.gov

SANTEC – SIGN IN SHEET FOR OCTOBER 14, 2004

Verify attendance by placing an X next to your name. If your name is not listed, please add at the end of this sheet.

dth\SANTEC SIGN IN SHEET 12

X

Name

Representing

Phone / Fax #

E-Mail

Dennis Landaal Kimley-Horn 619-234-9411 619-234-9433

Dennis.Landaal@Kimley-horn.com

Samuel Johnson SANDAG 619-699-6958 sjohnson@sdmts.com

X Richard Clements City of Oceanside (760) 435-5094 Rclements@ci.oceanside.ca.us

X Kenneth Recchia McCain (760) 734-5094 krecchia@mccaintraffic.com

X Tom Lichterman NCTD (760) 967-2855 TLichterman@nctd.org

X Mitch Alderman NCTD (760) 967-2852 MAlderman@nctd.org

X Conan Cheung MTS (619) 515-0933 Conan.Cheung@sdmts.com

X Mark Thomsen MTS (619) 595-4909 Mark.Thomsen@sdmts.com

Attachment 1

mailto:Dennis.Landaal@Kimley-horn.commailto:sjohnson@sdmts.commailto:Rclements@ci.oceanside.ca.us

Agenda Item #4

November 18, 2004 TO: San Diego Traffic Engineer’s Council (SANTEC) FROM: SANDAG staff SUBJECT: SANTEC Membership Revisions As a follow-up to the discussion on October 14, 2004, SANDAG staff will be presenting revisions to the existing SANTEC agency membership roster for approval. The revisions include the addition of NCTD and MTS to the SANTEC membership list to reflect the existing Transportation Committee membership structure and per direction by SANDAG’s Executive Board Chair. The addition of transit agencies to SANTEC reflects SANDAG’s continued pursuit for improving regional transportation planning and coordination across all modes. Specifically, with the addition of NCTD and MTS, SANTEC will provide SANDAG with a broad spectrum of expertise and understanding of traffic engineering issues across all modes and will continue to serve as SANDAG’s regional technical advisory committee that will help meet the needs and support SANDAG’s goals and policies. The addition of NCTD and MTS is critical to SANDAG’s commitment for improving communications and coordination among all local agency traffic engineers. The addition of transit agencies to the existing agency membership list will allow SANTEC to reflect a solid basis for a truly regional approach for implementing and promoting traffic engineering programs. If the addition of NCTD and MTS is not approved by SANTEC members, SANTEC will cease to operate as a standing SANDAG subcommittee. Regardless of SANTEC’s action on this item, SANDAG’s Executive Committee will be reviewing the objective and purpose of all standing SANDAG subcommittees on a yearly basis. SANDAG staff will be available to answer any questions and provide additional information on this item during the November 18, 2004, SANTEC meeting.

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Agenda Item #5

November 18, 2004

TO: San Diego Traffic Engineer’s Council (SANTEC)

FROM: SANDAG staff

SUBJECT: Regional Arterial Management System (RAMS) Introduction At the last SANTEC meeting held on October 14, 2004, an update on the status of the RAMS project was requested. The purpose of the RAMS project is to enhance interjurisdictional coordination of traffic signals along arterial corridors. The project is being implemented by SANDAG with the Traffic Systems Technical Working Group acting as the forum for discussion and decision-making. The following is an informational update on the status of the project. Background The RAMS project was initiated in 1998 as part of the Southern California Intermodal Transportation Management and Information System referred to as the “Showcase” project. Southern California was selected as a “Showcase” location through a national competitive grant process. A Cooperative Agreement was executed on December 3, 1998, between Caltrans and SANDAG for the development of RAMS. A Request for Proposals was issued by SANDAG and Caltrans in 1999. The contract was finalized between SANDAG in BI Tran Systems in 2002. The design document was finalized in October 2003. Funding for this project comes from a variety of sources including Traffic Signal Optimization Program administered by SANTEC. The total project cost is estimated at $1.6 million of which $1.2 million has been secured to date. System Architecture

The RAMS project takes advantage of the unique nature of the San Diego region where QuicNet 4 is used by a majority of the jurisdictions who own and operate traffic signals. QuicNet 4 is used as the common platform for RAMS. The QuicNet 4 software will be upgraded to QuicNet 4+ to allow for the development of multijurisdictional traffic signal timing plans for arterial corridors that span two or more jurisdictions. An independent communications network will be established for RAMS along with a regional server to provide linkage between RAMS and other regional systems. The diagram on the next page shows the basic system architecture. In the diagram, IMTMS refers to the Inter-Modal Transportation Management System, the regional communications network.

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RAMS System Architecture

System Functionality The purpose of the RAMS project is to enhance interjurisdictional coordination of traffic signals along arterial corridors. RAMS will allow jurisdictions to develop, propose, and implement traffic signal timing plans spanning multiple jurisdictions for day-to-day, planned special event, and emergency conditions. Security features and jurisdictional authority will be held paramount. Multi-jurisdictional timing plans can be implemented only when jurisdictional authorities mutually agree to the timing plans or, in the case of special event and emergency plans, agree to a predetermined set of conditions for implementation of the timing plans. RAMS will not resolve philosophical differences between adjacent jurisdictions on how traffic signal timing plans should be set. But when adjacent jurisdictions agree, RAMS will facilitate the development and implementation of multi-jurisdictional traffic signal timing plans. The RAMS design document contains 19 separate functional requirements of RAMS ranging from login requirements and security permissions to map display and timing plan confirmation requirements. The system functionality defines what the system will do and how it will do it. The functional requirements are the tangible results that the success of the project will be measured against.

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RAMS is being deployed in nine distinct phases. Those phases are shown below.

1. Preliminary Design 2. Final Design 3. Initial Deployment – Security Features 4. Initial Deployment – View and Monitor Traffic Signals 5. Initial Deployment – Develop and Implement Timing Plans 6. Regional QuicNet 4+ Server 7. Final Deployment 8. Training and Documentation 9. Maintenance and Support

The first two phases have been completed and phase three has begun. The initial deployment will include three jurisdictions: Caltrans, City of Chula Vista, and City of San Diego. The hardware has been procured for the initial deployment and QuicNet 4+ software development is underway. The final deployment will include the 13 other jurisdictions in the region that own and operate signals using QuicNet 4 software. The schedule for the RAMS project is shown below.

RAMS Schedule

2004 2005 2005 2005 2005 2006 2006 2006

Deployment

Phase Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Sep

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Agenda Item #6

November 18, 2004

TO: San Diego Traffic Engineer’s Council (SANTEC)

FROM: SANDAG staff

SUBJECT: A Proposal to Improve the Traffic Count Database Introduction SANDAG staff is proposing the development of a uniform system for reporting and storing traffic counts. This new system could provide all jurisdictions with more effective tools for analyzing, reporting, and mapping traffic count information, and also streamline the procedures for importing local counts into SANDAG’s regional traffic count database. The new procedures would require both SANDAG and local jurisdictions to change current practices. SANDAG staff presented this proposal to CTAC at their November 4 meeting. CTAC agreed that the proposal has merit, and that SANDAG should begin working with SANTEC to form an Ad Hoc Working Group to help design such a system. Today we are asking for volunteers to participate as the Working Group. SANDAG staff is not proposing a mandatory regional program and those jurisdictions that have a significant investment in their existing programs may certainly opt out. Participation by a sufficient number of local jurisdictions would be necessary to make the project cost effective. Background SANDAG began collecting traffic counts from the local jurisdictions in 1977. This traffic count information has had three major uses:

• producing traffic flow maps; • monitoring regional travel trends (such as vehicle miles of travel); and • validating traffic volumes estimated by SANDAG’s transportation models.

The data collection process has remained virtually unchanged over the past 25 years. Each year SANDAG staff asks jurisdictions to manually update counts with any new counts that have been taken. The format of the data we receive varies widely, depending on each jurisdiction’s current practices. Over the last several years, many jurisdictions have established their own computerized traffic count files. SANDAG staff would like to automate traffic count collection by simply importing

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spreadsheets from each jurisdiction. However, this is currently not possible because each jurisdiction has developed their file formats independently, and each one is different. Proposal The Ad Hoc Working Group would develop a common format for storing traffic counts. This could take the form of a standardized Excel spreadsheet where each traffic count location would be assigned a unique station number. SANDAG staff would take the lead in converting old count formats to the new format. SANDAG staff would write applications to provide each jurisdiction with at least the same functionality as their current systems have for reporting, analyzing, and charting traffic counts. SANDAG staff would train local jurisdiction staff on use of the new system. Once the new system was operational, jurisdictions would convert to the new system and log traffic counts into the new format. Jurisdictions would e-mail their spreadsheets to SANDAG when regional count files need to be updated. If desired, and if sufficient resources are available, the basic approach outlined above could be expanded to add capabilities such as:

• distributing counts over the Web using Internet mapping applications; • archiving hourly, directional counts in addition to daily counts; and • augmenting local counts with a regional count program.

Agenda Item #7

UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS

December 9, 2004

• California Multiple Award Schedule (CMAS), (Stephen Baker, Caltrans) • CMAQ Traffic Signal Optimization Program Reserve Balance Program Funding Requests

(Alex Estrella, SANDAG) January 13, 2005

• Status of the ITE Highway Capacity Task Force (Erik Ruehr, Task Force Chair) • CMAQ Traffic Signal Optimization Program Reserve Balance Program Funding Requests

(Alex Estrella, SANDAG) • CMAQ Traffic Signal Optimization Program Funding Recommendation for updating San

Diego Traffic Generators Manual and/or Installation of CMP Traffic Monitoring Stations (Alex Estrella, SANDAG) – TBD

February 10, 2004

• Transportation Project Status Report (SANDAG) • Automatic Vehicle Classification Project (AVC) (Alex Estrella, SANDAG) • Traffic Signal Interconnect Inventory for Regional Arterial System (Alex Estrella, SANDAG)

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Agenda - Thursday, November 18, 2004Item #2 - Meeting SummaryItem #2 - Attachment 1 -Sign In Sheet

Item #4 - SANTEC MembershipItem #5 - Regional Arterial Management System Project UpdateItem #6 - Traffic Count DatabaseItem #7 - Upcoming Agenda Items