Title
Consider and take action on a resolution ratifying the submission of a grant application to the Texas Department of Transportation, to seek funding through the Texas Traffic Safety Program FY2027, to upgrade existing Opticom systems and to add Opticom systems to all emergency vehicles and traffic lights within the City of League City; and authorizing the acceptance of such a grant if awarded (Fire Chief, Police Chief, and Director of Information Technology)
Background:
Approval of this item would ratify the submission of an application by the Fire Department in conjunction with the League City Police Department and Information Technology to the FY2027 Texas Department of Transportation, Texas Traffic Safety Program and allow the City to accept such grant if awarded. This grant, if funded, would allow for the the City to upgrade the current emergency vehicles traffic signal preemption devices along with upgrading the traffic signals with the upgraded traffic signal preemption devices. While responding to an emergency call and utilizing their emergency lights and sirens, Fire, EMS, and Police currently utilize GPS and 900MHz traffic signal preemptions to change the traffic lights in the direction that they are traveling to green. Studies have shown that intersections create a significant hazard to not only the responding emergency vehicles but also the general public. With the enhancements of the new system, by utilizing cellular technology, we would be able to increase the distance that the signal preemption is activated allowing for emergency vehicles to further reduce the risk when responding to emergency calls. Lastly, the upgraded preemption system will allow for the Public Works Traffic Department to remotely monitor and maintain the system to ensure its reliability and accuracy without physically have to go to the traffic signal boxes, which is what is currently required of the traffic department.
In addition to the traffic signal preemption, this upgraded system allows for the notification of the public's vehicles from the activated emergency vehicle. This notification is transmitted from the activated emergency vehicle and is received by the general public's vehicle through software such as: Ford connect, Waze mapping, and TravelSafely app. Additional integration with Apple Maps, Google Maps, and other vehicle manufacturers connected systems are in development. Currently, Medic 3 has a very similar public alerting system, which is stand-alone from the signal preemption, and this system averages 643 public vehicle notifications per month. These notifications would be similar to: "emergency vehicle on shoulder ahead" , "emergency vehicle approaching from behind", or "road closed ahead". This timely public notification of emergency vehicles allows the general public to take action to move to the right for a responding vehicle or move over and slow down for an active emergency scene on the roadway.
This grant proposal would allow for the upgrade of:
1. 75 Traffic Signals
2. 26 Fire Vehicles
3. 9 Fire Marshal Vehicles
4. 12 EMS Vehicles
5. 86 Police Vehicles
Attachments:
1. Proposed Resolution
2. Grant Pre-Approval Form
CONTRACT ORIGINATION: Fire Department
FUNDING
{X } If approved, the grant would fund 80% of the total project cost ($1,567,216) through the FY2027 Texas Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Program. The City’s required 20% match would be $391,804, for a total project cost of $1,959,020. The City match would be requested as part of the FY2027 budget process. Grant proceeds will post to General Fund revenue account 0100-48336.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
{ X } Addresses Strategic Planning Critical Success Factor # 3 Safe and Desirable Community