Staff Report - MTC IDEA grant Final revised
PREPARED BY: YING SMITH
Transportation and Mobility Manager
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Parks and Public Works
Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● 408-354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/07/2017
ITEM NO: 11
DATE: OCTOBER 25, 2017
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION’S INNOVATIVE
DEPLOYMENTS TO ENHANCE ARTERIALS GRANT PROGRAM FOR A SMART
SIGNAL PROJECT
RECOMMENDATION:
Authorize the Town Manager to submit an application to the Metropolitan Transportation
Commission’s (MTC) Innovative Deployments to Enhance Arterials (IDEA) grant program for a
Smart Signal project.
BACKGROUND:
The Town’s existing signals operate in an aged system without a central control. In 2016 the
Town completed a Traffic Signal System Evaluation, which included a detailed inventory of the
existing traffic signal infrastructure network. Subsequently, the Town applied and was awarded
a Vehicle Registration Fee (VRF) grant of $500,000 from the Santa Clara Valley Transportation
Authority (VTA) to support a project to modernize the Town’s signal controllers.
Early this year staff began to define the scope of the Townwide signal modernization.
Technology innovation has resulted in many available advanced signal upgrade options. Local
agencies are evaluating these options based on the priorities of the communities, the level of
complexity of traffic patterns, the impacts on operating costs, and the available funding. Smart
Signal systems are characterized as having the capacity to process rich traffic information and
powerful tools to enable agencies to actively monitor signal performance and proactively
identify and correct deficiencies before they negatively impact arterial operations.
PAGE 2 OF 4
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION’S INNOVATIVE
DEPLOYMENTS TO ENHANCE ARTERIALS GRANT PROGRAM FOR A SMART
SIGNAL PROJECT
OCTOBER 25, 2017
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\11-07-17\MTC Grant\Staff Report - MTC IDEA grant Final revised.docx 11/2/2017 12:58 PM YCS
BACKGROUND (cont’d):
In August, the MTC issued a call for grant applications under the new regional initiative called
IDEA. The new grant program aims to use $13 million in federal funds to help local agencies
improve the operation of major arterial roadways and to make these roadways more ready for
connected and automated vehicle technologies.
Grant funds will be directed towards two categories of projects: Category 1 projects deploy
mature, commercially-available advanced technologies. Category 2 projects deploy
connected/automated vehicle technologies, most of which are not yet commercially-available.
DISCUSSION:
The MTC IDEA grant program is an opportunity for the Town to pursue additional funding to
leverage the VRF grant received previously to develop a more robust signal system. The goal is
to upgrade the existing signals to a state-of-art system to meet the current safety standards
and increase traffic operation efficiency.
Staff has conceptualized a proposal that focuses on addressing traffic around schools and
improving multimodal safety and traffic operations. The project area will be along Los Gatos
Boulevard and Blossom Hill Road. Mirroring the MTC grant program structure, staff is
proposing a project consisting of two components:
Category 1 Component: Deploy a Smart Signal system with Automated Traffic Signal
Performance Measures and adaptive signal control technology. This component will
include upgrades at 13 intersections to include high resolution cameras to detect
vehicle, bicyclist, and pedestrian movements, Big Data processing and cloud hosting,
wireless broadband connections, and other supporting features. These upgrades will
enable engineering staff to detect changes in operating conditions based on historic and
real time traffic data allowing for optimization of signal operations when needed.
Category 2 Component: Pilot a deployment of smartphone‐initiated bicyclist signal
prioritization on Los Gatos Boulevard. The smartphone‐initiated applications enable
signal priority for bicyclists at intersections based on real-time usage. There is interest
from MTC and other agencies to test the new technology in a local setting. Staff
reviewed a few early deployments and found this technology to be promising for
encouraging higher bicycle uses by improving signal green time. Although the
PAGE 3 OF 4
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION’S INNOVATIVE
DEPLOYMENTS TO ENHANCE ARTERIALS GRANT PROGRAM FOR A SMART
SIGNAL PROJECT
OCTOBER 25, 2017
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\11-07-17\MTC Grant\Staff Report - MTC IDEA grant Final revised.docx 11/2/2017 12:58 PM YCS
DISCUSSION (cont’d):
smartphone apps will be available to all users upon full deployment, staff envisions the
first target users will be school children who bike to and from school.
Staff anticipates that the inclusion of both components, instead of just one, will make the
overall application more competitive while advancing Town priorities.
CONCLUSION:
Staff is proposing submitting a grant application for a Smart Signal project with a focus on
improving traffic and safety around schools. Grant applications are due November 17, 2017
with award recommendations anticipated in December 2017. The earliest possible start date is
in the first quarter of 2018 with an estimated two-year project timeframe. The project schedule
would be subject to Federal processes.
Staff learned from the grant workshop and conversations with MTC staff that a project with a
clear focus and purpose will likely be more competitive. Therefore, staff has defined the scope
to focus on addressing traffic around schools and improving multimodal safety and traffic
operations. This focus is also consistent with the Town’s Safe Routes to School efforts.
The Smart Signal project will provide valuable experience in deploying the robust technology
features in Los Gatos. Staff will continue to pursue funding to advance the entire system as
funding opportunities arise.
COORDINATION:
This project has been coordinated with MTC and VTA staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total project estimate is scalable up to $950,000, depending on the final features of the
signal system. Staff is targeting a minimum of 25% local match, which would be provided in the
form of Town staff time and cash contribution, sourced from the VRF grant and Traffic Impact
Fees. If the Town’s application is awarded, the Town would receive approximately $700,000 in
Federal funds. Staff would work with consultants to scale the signal project to maximize the
available funds and provide the best value.
PAGE 4 OF 4
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE TOWN MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION’S INNOVATIVE
DEPLOYMENTS TO ENHANCE ARTERIALS GRANT PROGRAM FOR A SMART
SIGNAL PROJECT
OCTOBER 25, 2017
S:\COUNCIL REPORTS\2017\11-07-17\MTC Grant\Staff Report - MTC IDEA grant Final revised.docx 11/2/2017 12:58 PM YCS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The Smart Signal project would be a project as defined under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA), categorically exempt pursuant to the adopted Guidelines for the
Implementation of CEQA, Section 15301: Existing Facilities. A Notice of Exemption will be filed.