PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Director of Transportation and Capital Improvements
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a contract with Consolidated Traffic Control, Inc. for the installation of Opticom emergency preemption equipment to support the City of New Braunfels Fire Department.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 5
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Since the inception of the Creekside Town Center Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ), the construction of a fire station within the boundaries has been planned. On June 11, 2019 the Creekside TIRZ board approved a recommendation to City Council for full design and issuance of a Competitive Sealed Proposal for construction of the station and the City Council approved the construction contract with D. Wilson for Fire Station 7 on June 13, 2022. The new fire station driveway was realigned to connect to the intersection of Lifehaus Industrial Drive at FM 306 and a new traffic signal has been installed at this intersection.
Opticom emergency preemption equipment will help to ensure safe travel through three intersections (listed below) near Fire Station 7 by providing priority signal operation. It is also expected that the preemption will reduce response times along the FM 306 corridor.
- Lifehaus Industrial Drive at FM 306
- Longhorn Industrial Drive at FM 306
- Common Street/FM 1102 at FM 306
City Staff is recommending that the Opticom system be tested through a pilot agreement with Consolidated Traffic Control to ensure performance expectations are achieved before finalizing the purchase contract. The intent is to implement future traffic signal preemption upgrades at key intersections throughout the City utilizing the 2023 Bond Funds through the Citywide Intersection Improvement Project.
The contract will provide for the necessary equipment and installation at a cost of $71,077.
The City will be utilizing a Houston-Galveston Area Council cooperative contract which has been vetted thereby satisfying the City’s competitive bidding requirements.
ISSUE:
Traffic congestion on FM 306 will have an impact on emergency response times dispatching from the new Fire Station 7.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
☐Economic Mobility ☐Enhanced Connectivity ☐Community Identity
☐Organizational Excellence ☒Community Well-Being ☐N/A
Ensuring safe travel for emergency vehicles entering FM 306 from the new Fire Station 7
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of the installation of Opticom emergency preemption equipment will be funded by unused contingency from the Fire Station 7 project which is funded by the Creekside TIRZ, therefore sufficient funds are available.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval of a contract with Consolidated Traffic Control, Inc. for the installation of Opticom equipment to support the City of New Braunfels Fire Department.