AGENDA #4d
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorization for Manager to Execute an Agreement between the Town and North Carolina Department of Transportation Regarding Computerized Traffic Signal System Software Upgrade
DATE: January 12, 2004
The attached resolution would authorize the Manager to enter into an agreement with the State for upgrading the existing traffic signal system software from Disk Operating System (DOS) to Windows operating system.
The Manager recommends adoption of the attached resolution.
The existing traffic signal system operating software is approximately 10 years old. It is DOS based and, as such, it has become obsolete and incapable of adequately operating the Town’s growing traffic signal system. We have discussed this matter with the State, and agreed that an interim step prior to upgrading the entire signal system would be to upgrade the system operating software from a DOS-based system to WINDOWS-based system.
The State agreed to fund the software upgrade through the North Carolina: Moving Ahead! initiative approved by Governor Easley earlier this year.
Major benefits of the proposed software upgrade include:
· Simplified data input,
· Improved response time,
· Improved trouble-shooting capability between field controllers and office computers, and
· Improved traffic signal coordination capability.
Key provisions of the agreement are:
· The Town would be responsible for contract administration,
· The State would reimburse the Town for 92% of the total cost of the project (the reimbursement percentage reflects the ratio of the number of signalized intersections on the Town street system to the number of signalized intersections on the State street system),
· The estimated cost of the project is $125,000 and the State would reimburse the Town $115,000, and
· The project could begin as soon as February 2004 and could be completed in approximately four months.
The current Town Capital Improvements Program has $20,000 approved for the Town’s share of traffic signal system upgrade work. We believe that $10,000 of the available traffic signal upgrade funds could be used for the Town’s share of the software conversion project.
That the Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing the Manager to enter into an agreement with the State regarding upgrading the traffic signal system software; and to use $10,000 from FY 2003-04 CIP funds for the Town’s share of the total cost of the project.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN MANAGER TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION REGARDING UPGRADING THE TOWN’S TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM SOFTWARE (2004-01-12/R-4)
WHEREAS, the Town and the State have a mutual interest in the efficient and effective operation of traffic signals within the Municipalities of Chapel Hill and Carrboro; and
WHEREAS, the Town and the State propose upgrading the existing traffic signal system software; and
WHEREAS, the project costs would be shared by the State and the Town in accordance with the approved agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Manager is authorized to execute on behalf of the Town an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation regarding traffic signal system software upgrades.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the Manager use up to $10,000 of 2003-2004 CIP funds for the Town’s share of the project costs.
This the 12th day of January, 2004.