Columbus Computerized Traffic Signal System Eagan L. Foster, P.E. Transportation Division Columbus Public Service Department Where have we been? Where

Columbus ComputerizedTraffic Signal System

Eagan L. Foster, P.E.Transportation Division

Columbus Public Service Department

Where have we been?

Where are we today?

Where are we going?


• The Importance of Coordinated Traffic Signal Systems– Reduce congestion

– Reduce accidents

– Reduce aggressive driver behavior

– Improve air quality / reduce fuel consumption

– Postpone or eliminate the need for construction of additional capacity

– Neighborhood traffic calming


• Columbus’s Coordinated Traffic Signal System– Late 1950’s

– First capture of Federal monies

• Civil Defense funding

– Electromechanical controllers

– “Open Loop” system

– Cross-jurisdictional coordination in Bexley


• Columbus looked to improve the signal operations in the Central Business District– Early 1970’s

– Federal money - TOPICS (Traffic Operations Program to Improve Capacity and Safety)

– Central Control System

– Coaxial Cable Interconnect and conduit

– Closed-circuit Cameras - funding

– Set model for development of future projects


• Columbus looked for an opportunity to capture additional funding for another signal system in the Northland area– Federal money - Demonstration program

– Central Control System at Karl & Morse

– System monitored from downtown office

– Coaxial Cable Interconnect - aerial installation

– City installed field devices by force account


• Columbus developed a project to replace the CBD system with a system capable of handling all the traffic signals (up to 1000) in Columbus and those in other jurisdictions– Early 1980’s

– To be constructed in two phases

– Federal funding

• Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ)

– Replace the existing CBD system

– Replace the 1950’s electromechanical system


Phase 10 is under construction• Local intersection equipment installed – Summer 2002• Communications plant

– Installation delayed due to utility rearrangement issues• Process changed three times during the project - adding 3

years to the project• Additional costs to the City• Now underway since June 2004


Upcoming projects• Phase 11

– Final Tracings filed in September 2003– Was programmed for sale in January 2006

• Phase 12– Design

• Consultant for project plan preparation

• Design parameters changing due to CTSS study


Upcoming projects• Phase 13 and Phase 14 proposed to begin replacement of

portions of the system– Communications infrastructure dates to 1985

• New technology possible

– Fiber-optic

– Wireless

– Replace Central Control System

• Transition plan for using coaxial cable

• System capable of interacting with other systems


Closed Loop Systems• City proposed the first centrally-monitored Closed Loop

Traffic Signal System

• Federal-aid project sold in 1981

• Safetran Traffic Systems

• Locations– Hamilton Road

– Refugee Road

– Henderson Road


Closed Loop Systems• Later

– Econolite– TCT (Traffic Control Technologies)

• Current standard– Econolite Zone Master

• Local communications– Twisted pair wire or fiber optic generally being used– Wireless –Hamilton Rd (SR-317 near US-33)

– Eagle Actra Master• Local communications – wireless• Partnership with ODOT District Six

Polaris Pkwy

Polaris Pkwy


New Signal Control / Management System should have the following characteristics– Open Architecture

– Interoperable with Other Planned Regional ITS Initiatives

– Leverage the City’s Existing Infrastructure• Compatible with current controllers

• Operate over coaxial communications media


Columbus’s relationship to other agencies• Lead agency for coordination through CTSS

– Interconnect Design

– Operations

• Monitoring Of Signals On The CTSS

– Advise Agency Of Status Of Operation

• Timing In Other Jurisdictions

– Responsibility Of The Other Agency

– City Implements Timing On The System


Columbus’s relationship to other agencies• Lead agency for coordination through CTSS

– Maintenance

• Communications Infrastructure

• Control Cabinet Communication Equipment

– Agencies

• Current - Bexley, Franklin County, Grandview Heights, Reynoldsburg, Valleyview, Whitehall

• Groveport, ODOT (Closed Loop)

• Future - Marble Cliff, Upper Arlington


Columbus’s relationship to other agencies• Cooperative incident management with ODOT - Freeway

Management System– Co-location with FMS in the City’s Traffic Management Center

– Connection to Econolite Closed Loop System at Polaris Parkway

– Future connection to other signal control systems


Columbus’s relationship to other agencies• Cooperative cross-jurisdictional signal coordination

– ODOT maintaining communications equipment for their signals and City signals in corridors

• US-62/SR-3 between I-270 and Brown Road

• SR-3 between Agler Road and Dempsey Road

• US-33 between Nottingham Road and Riverside Green

– Franklin County

• Cleveland Avenue between Oakland Park and Ferris Road


Columbus’s relationship to other agencies• General Maintenance Operations

– Agencies

• Columbus Airport Authority

• Grandview Heights

• Marble Cliff

• Ohio State University

• Valleyview

• Whitehall


Columbus CTSS Study• MORPC contract• Key Agencies - Financial Contribution - $20K each

– City of Columbus– Franklin County Engineer– Central Ohio Transit Authority

• Consultant Team– HNTB

• Dave Hill, Project Manager, Arlington Virginia– DLZ, Ohio

• Steve Jewell, Assistant Project Manager, Columbus


Columbus CTSS Study – Final Draft Received• Control & Communication Recommendations

– Replace Central Control System with a more Distributed System– Utilize existing coax for IP Communications– Utilize existing Eagle and Econolite Controllers to extend possible– Construct a new Communications Network

• IP Communications Protocol• Fiber-optic SONET Rings – Resilient Packet Rings• Wireless Communications to local devices

EXHIBIT 6: COMMUNICATION SYSTEM BLOCK DIAGRAM

NOTES

NEW CENTRAL SIGNAL COMPUTER2

2. NEW COMPUTER ASSUMED TO BE CAPABLE OF COMMUNICATING WITH EAGLE, ECONOLITE,AND NTCIP CONTROLLERS

EXISTING VIDEOSWITCH

RFMODEM3

3. MODEMS MUST WORK ON AT LEAST 4 COMMUNICATION CHANNELS, ONE EACH FOR EAGLE, ECONOLITE,AND NTCIP SIGNAL CONTROLLERS, AND FOR EXISTING CAMERA CONTROLLERS

NTCIP CAMERACOMPUTER4

4. NTCIP CAMERA COMPUTER SENDS CAMERA AIMING COMMANDS AND DISTRIBUTES DIGITAL VIDEO TOVIEWERS

RFMODEM3

RFMODEM3

RFMODEM3

EIA-232EIA-232EIA-232EIA-232

RF SPLITTER/COMBINER

EAGLE

RFMODEM3

EIA-232

ECONOLITE

RFMODEM3

EIA-232

NTCIP

RFMODEM3

EIA-232

RFMODEM3

ANALOG VIDEOTRANSMITTER

ANALOG VIDEORECEIVER

ETHERNET

RPR HUB6

SECURITYAPPLIANCE

ETHERNET

EXISTINGCOAX

METRO-NET SECURITY

APPLIANCE

MEDIACONVERTER

5. DEVICE SERVER NOT REQUIRED IF CONTROLLER HAS ETHERNET PORT

ETHERNET

ETHERNET

DISTRIBUTIONFIBER

6. ETHERNET SWITCHES AND RPR HUBS WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH FIBER OPTIC INTERFACES AS REQUIRED.

ETHERNETSWITCH6

NTCIP

EIA-232

ETHERNETSWITCH6

DEVICESERVER5

MPEG-2CODEC

DEVICESERVER5

RFMODEM3

DEVICESERVER5

MEDIACONVERTER

ETHERNET

DISTRIBUTIONFIBER

ETHERNETSWITCH6

NTCIP

EIA-232DEVICESERVER5

NTCIP

EIA-232 DEVICESERVER5

ETHERNET

TMC

RPR HUB6 BACKBONEFIBER

DIST.FIBER

BACKBONEFIBER

1. SHADED ITEMS ARE EXISTING. UNSHADED ITEMS ARE NEW.

Columbus ComputerizedTraffic Signal

System


System

EXHIBIT 1: PROPOSED BACKBONE RINGS

FIBER INSTALLED FOR BACKBONE

SPARE FIBER IN METRONET CABLE (APPROXIMATE LOCATION)

Proposed Communications

Network Backbone


System

Proposed Communications

Network

Redesign of Phase 11 Project

FIBER INSTALLED FOR BACKBONE

SPARE FIBER IN METRONET CABLE (APPROXIMATE LOCATION)

EXHIBIT 7: BACKBONE RINGS NEAR PHASE 11

HUB

14 SIGNALSAND A CAMERA.

SEE EXHIBIT 8.

CLOSED LOOPSYSTEM ONTWISTED PAIR,PLUS OTHERSIGNALS

CLOSED LOOPSYSTEM ONFIBER

ABOUT 10SIGNALS

AT LEAST3 SIGNALS

14 SIGNALS.SEE EXHIBIT 11


9 SIGNALS AND2 CAMERAS.

SEE EXHIBIT 11


Columbus ComputerizedTraffic Signal SystemEXHIBIT 11: KING/FIFTH/GRANDVIEW/NORTHWEST/DUBLIN/MCKINLEY/RIVERSIDE

RADIO ZONES

MICROWAVEVIDEO LINKS

HUB AT ON BACKBONEFIBER AT POLICE STRATEGIC

RESPONSE UNIT

HUB ONBACKBONE FIBER

DISTRIBUTIONFIBER


Columbus CTSS Study – Final Draft Received• Other Recommendations

– Timing Plan Development• Key to Success of CTSS• $2,500 to $3,000 per intersection typical (by consultant)

– Staffing• Engineering & Data Collection

– 75 signals per staff member» (increase from around 150 per staff member

• Maintenance– 60 signals per technician

» (increase from around 75 per tech)


Future Direction for CTSS Development• Have Secured Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality Funding• Planning

– Scope of Work to Include Which Features – Determine Optimum Phasing Sequence

• Phase 13 – Begin Replacement of Existing System– New Central System– IP Communication at Existing Locations

• Phase 11 – Extend System with New Communications• Phase 12 – Extend System with New Communications• Phase 14 – Communications Conversion

– Determine Optimum Funding– How Fast Can Plans Be Produced?


Questions?

• Eagan L. Foster, P.E., P.T.O.ETraffic Operations Engineer

City of Columbus, Transportation Division

109 N. Front Street, Third Floor

Columbus, OH 43215-9022

(614) 645-7738

[email protected]

Documents

Columbus Computerized Traffic Signal System Eagan L. Foster, P.E. Transportation Division Columbus Public Service Department Where have we been? Where