Making Smart Moves By Increasing Camera and Sign Capabilities

Overview

IN THIS CASE STUDY YOU WILL LEARN

1. New Jersey DOT deploys ITS devices to increase the state’s transportation systems management and operations (TSMO) capabilities.
2. Camera surveillance system locations were primarily determined by comparing NJDOT’s historical incident data to State, County, and Municipal incident data to identify locations with frequent incidents that are not reported to the NJDOT.
3. The camera feeds from these additional 37 cameras have also been integrated in New Jersey’s 511NJ program to provide motorists additional camera feeds to view on 511NJ.org to help them plan travel routes.

BACKGROUND

As part of the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT’s) mission to “Improve Lives by Improving Transportation”, the Department deploys ITS devices statewide to increase Transportation Systems Management and Operations capabilities throughout the state.  In 2014, the Division of Mobility Engineering developed two contracts under its Smart Moves umbrella titled “Smart Moves 2014 North” and “Smart Moves 2014 South”.  Under its Smart Moves 2014 Contracts, NJDOT used different planning strategies to deploy Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), Camera Surveillance Systems (CSS), and Travel Time System (TTS), along with backbone communication throughout the state.

STRATEGIES AND DEPLOYMENT

Deployment strategies included collaboration between Traffic Operations, ITS Engineering, and ITS Maintenance.  The Division of Traffic Operations scoped general areas for Dynamic Message Sign and Camera Surveillance System deployments using two different methodologies.

DMS locations were selected in advance of major interchanges as well as hazardous areas such as bridges and tunnels.  CSS locations were primarily determined by comparing NJDOT’s historical incident data to State, County, and Municipal incident data to identify locations with frequent incidents that are not reported to the NJDOT.  Secondly, the CSS locations were also determined from gap coverage, large congestion generators, as well as Traffic Operations Operator’s requests.  These locations were then developed into a listed format, reviewed, and approved by the North and South Regional Traffic Operations Managers.  After receiving finalized lists, ITS Engineering and ITS Maintenance reviewed the lists and worked with design consultants to determine the best suitable areas for construction and maintenance of these facilities near the general locations determined by Traffic Operations.  Under these contracts, the Division of Mobility Engineering made the decision that all DMS deployed should include Bluetooth Travel Time Systems as a way to increase NJDOT’s TTS infrastructure.  A decision was made to include a CSS as part of any ground mounted DMS to increase situational awareness abilities of the Traffic Operations Centers but decrease the cost of deploying a standalone system.

OUTCOMES

These two sister projects added 21 Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), 37 Camera Surveillance Systems (CSS), 21 Bluetooth Travel Time devices, a new Travel Time System (TTS), and over 5 miles of fiber optic cable to New Jersey’s existing ITS Architecture over a period of approximately two years.  The two projects have had a significant impact on improving NJDOT’s TSMO capabilities. 

LESSONS LEARNED

Some lessons learned on this contract included design and construction lessons.  As part of construction, the Division of Mobility Engineering was introduced to Utility Engineering Construction Agreements (UECA), Utility Agreement Modification Change Orders (UMACO), as well as Master Agreement Change Orders (MACO).  UECAs are completed during preliminary engineering and provide funding to utility companies to perform design work related to locations for which NJDOT is requesting power.  UMACOs are change orders to a specific UECA, which allows NJDOT to provide utility companies with funding to construct any improvements to their infrastructure that may be necessary to bring power to sites. 

Previously ITS contracts were very small which resulted in the use of a Limited Scope design process and due to the small amount of ITS work, utility companies never required such agreements.  However, with roughly 14 million dollars of ITS construction on these contracts utility companies requested funding to design and construct infrastructure to bring power to the requested sites.  Unfortunately, for the Division of Mobility Engineering this request was made in the midst of construction, which resulted in delays of providing power to various sites throughout both contracts.  To resolve the immediate issue of providing power the Division of Mobility Engineering worked with NJDOT’s Office of Utility Management to create a MACO.  MACOs are used to provide the utility companies with funding to design and construct facilities while already in construction.  To avoid this issue on future contracts, the Division of Mobility Engineering has now included UECA’s as part of its Limited Scope design process. 

BENEFITS

Benefits of the 21 additional DMS provide NJDOT the ability to post incident information in advance of major interchanges such as accidents and construction work, travel time information to indicate delays, weather event information, as well as planned event information for major events such as football games and state fairs.  As time allows, the message signs also provide safety messages.

Benefits of the 37 additional cameras provide Traffic Operations with additional capacity to monitor state roadways as well as situational awareness during incidents and weather events.  The camera feeds from these additional 37 cameras have also been integrated in New Jersey’s 511NJ program to provide motorists additional camera feeds to view on 511NJ.org to help them plan travel routes.