New York Department of Transportation Information for Motorists (INFORM) ITS Design

The primary purpose of this five-year, $12-million contract is to provide NYSDOT with the engineering resources and expertise required to provide design of new ITS elements, services, systems, and all related integration work necessary to upgrade, expand, protect, and maintain the continuous operation of INFORM. The INFORM system encompasses three major east/west freeway facilities: I-495 (Long Island Expressway), the Northern State Parkway/Grand Central Parkway, the Southern State Parkway, and a number of parallel and crossing arterial streets and freeways, for a total of 370+ centerline miles of instrumented roadways. The system is comprised of:

• A communications trunk/distribution backbone (fiber, Broadband via VPN, and wireless (900MHz spread spectrum and CDMA))
• 4,000+ vehicle detectors (loop, video, acoustic, radar, and Wi-Fi)
• 208 overhead variable message signs (VMS)
• 142 portable variable message signs (PVMS)
• 1,294 intersection traffic signals (over 650 under central control)
• 81 ramp meters
• 382 closed-circuit cameras (CCTV)
• 63 TRANSMIT Reader Stations
• 16 Hybrid Travel Time Signs
• 16 Over-Height Vehicle Detector stations.

The tasks contained under this contract require the in-depth knowledge of a wide-ranging scope of technical, logistical, and procedural services, at times requiring effort and skills typically not performed by traditional ITS and traffic engineering firms. The specific tasks in the contract include: impact assessment on the system; final design of ITS system elements and support equipment; traffic signals design, installation, monitoring, and inspection; ITS engineering studies; ITS integration and monitoring; updating as-built drawings using CADD and GIS Format; ITS technology upgrades and modifications; training of technical personnel; ITS field engineering services; and regional ITS architecture.

Some of the tasks assigned under this contract include the design of multiple infrastructure replacements to address impacts from upcoming construction projects, such as concrete barrier protection design of over-height warning VMS; design of RWIS installations and RWIS retrofits; and  design of new overhead VMS with cantilever and full-span structures, including associated guiderail or concrete barrier protection. The scope also includes analysis of existing structures for replacement of existing overhead VMS.

Additional talks include the design of fiber backbone to connect to existing wireless equipment and provide direct connectivity to arterial fiber trunk; overhead fiber designs along arterials; traffic signals design with fiber connectivity; and Wi-Fi/BLE reader design implementation. The contract further includes the design of redundant 600kW backup generator for TMC, multiple lighting system expansions, replacements and repairs, subject matter expert services for the analysis, selection and replacement of 10,000 luminaires with appropriate LED fixtures.

System planning and operations support tasks include the development of sitewide emergency diversion plans, development of continuity of operations plans, including backup TMC requirements; initiation of a dark signal/generator plan; generation of systemwide fiber splice diagrams; and upgrades to the INFORM ITS regional architecture. The tasks also include creating systemwide GIS shapefiles, updating asset inventories, and revising record plans.

Construction and maintenance support activities include performing construction inspections and developing punch lists; conducting standalone, subsystem and system testing; performing catalog cut reviews, fiber plant OTDR reviews, completing catalog cut reviews; reviewing and approving fiber splice technician credentials. The scope also includes supporting the ITS maintenance contractor on a continuous basis, generating work orders for repairs and modifications to the system by the ITS maintenance contractor, and performing visual inspections and analyses (including dye penetration) of CCTV poles which were impacted by vehicles strikes. The team also provides ITS system engineering reviews of proposed NYSDOT projects.

This work resulted in designs being incorporated into over fifty capital construction projects as well as the issuance of over 975 work order to the system maintenance contractor in order to upgrade, expand, protect, and maintain the continuous operation of INFORM.