16-1393 Support for Innovative Traffic Signal Technologies Pilot ProjectRESOLUTION 16-1393
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMNIISSION OF THE CITY OF
LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, FOR SUPPORT FOR INNOVATIVE
TRAFFIC SIGNAL TECHNOLOGIES PILOT PROJECT
WHEREAS, the Orlando metropolitan area (which includes Orange, Seminole and Osceola
Counties) now has more than two million residents and the population is expected to continue
growing at a rate of 2-3% each year; and
WHEREAS, the metropolitan area is the nation's top visitor destination with more than 62
million visitors in 2014 (which is more than 500,000 visitors on a typical day) and strong
growth from domestic and international markets is expected to continue; and
WHEREAS, the metropolitan area's continued growth and prosperity depends on a
transportation system that can safely and efficiently move an ever greater volume of people
and goods; and
WHEREAS, there are limited opportunities for building new roads in densely developed,
urbanized areas while further expanding existing arterials may not be cost feasible in terms of
right-of-way and can be contrary to community interests; and
WHEREAS, to meet these challenges, more emphasis is being placed on other solutions such as
transit, non -motorized transportation and the use of transportation system management and
operations strategies to optimize utilization of existing arterials; and
WHEREAS, traffic signals play a critical role in moving vehicles on arterials while also
providing for the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, advances in traffic signal technology and related traffic management practices
have been shown to improve utilization of urban arterials and reduce travel time delays, which
is the goal of an effective transportation system management and operations program; and
WHEREAS, one such advance has been made with adaptive traffic signal technology which
results in traffic signals being operated based on information from roadside devices whose
effectiveness can be confirmed with probe vehicle technology such as electronic toll
transponders or Bluetooth-enabled devices within vehicles; and
WHEREAS, the Orlando metropolitan area currently has six independently controlled traffic
management centers (Florida Department of Transportation/District 5, Florida's Turnpike
Enterprise, Seminole County, Orange County, Osceola County and the City of Orlando) and
opportunities exist to improve connectivity, collaboration and coordination that could benefit
the region's transportation system and possibly reduce costs; and
WHEREAS, for operating and maintaining traffic signals there are immediate opportunities
for streamlining work processes between FDOT/District 5, counties and cities that should begin
with reworking existing agreements; and
City of Longwood Resolution 16-1393 Page 1 of 3
WHEREAS, making improvements to interoperability among the six traffic management
centers and reworking agreements for operating and maintaining traffic signals' would be
positive steps to enhance the region's transportation system that demonstrate our commitment
to collaboration and the efficient use of resources; and
WHEREAS, MetroPlan Orlando is embarking on the development of an Intelligent
Transportation System (ITS) Master Plan where the aforementioned topics, among others, will
be addressed and an important factor in prioritizing strategies in the Plan will be the
identification and application of emerging and innovative technologies to improve mobility
and reliability of the transportation network, especially on arterial roadways; and
WHEREAS, the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Master Plan will serve as the basis for
making prudent investment decisions with federal, state and local funds that will improve
transportation system management and operations; and
WHEREAS, a new federal transportation bill is being drafted by Congress to replace MAP-21
and it is expected to include funding for one or more pilot projects to -accelerate the
deployment of innovative traffic signaltechnologies; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Mica has called this opportunity to our attention and has offered to
lend his support with obtaining federal discretionary funds to conduct one or more pilot
projects using innovative traffic signal technologies throughout the metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, there are a number of prospective arterials in the Orlando metropolitan area that
are considered to be promising corridors for possible pilot projects such as US 17-92, US 192,
US 441, SR 414, SR 50, SR 426, SR 434, SR 436 and SR 438;and
WHEREAS, once a new federal transportation bill is approved by Congress and the President, it
is expected that the United States Department of Transportation will develop specific
information on pilot projects such as criteria that will be used for evaluation/selection,
procedures for submitting grant applications, funding match requirements, etc.;
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Transportation's discretionary grant programs
are highly competitive and applications selected for funding must be well-defined, have a
broad base of support and hold promise for delivering positive results that can be replicated
elsewhere;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
That in anticipation of this new funding opportunity, it is in the best interests of the City of
Longwood to join together at both the policy and technical levels to prepare for submitting a
region -wide grant application for an innovative traffic signal technology pilot program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that MetroPlan Orlando and the Florida Department of
Transportation/District 5 will take the lead, working closely with the City of Longwood and
other local governments, to develop one or more pilot projects that conform to the criteria
City of Longwood Resolution 16-1393 Page 2 of 3
established for the discretionary grant program by the United. States Department of
Transportation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Longwood is in full support of its staff
working closely with MetroPlan Orlando and the Florida Department of Transportation/District
5, along with other local governments, to develop a competitive grant application to obtain
federal funding for one or more pilot projects to evaluate the benefits of innovative traffic signal
technologies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that it would be advantageous to have a centralized traffic
management center that is managed by multiple users in a collaborative manner to allow for
shared staffing through centrally held contracts, greater interoperability, developing operating
and maintenance standards, enhancing security, sharing software through centralized licensing,
disseminating multimodal data, having one call -in number for the public to use in reporting
incidents and for improved coordination of incident response through the development of
MetroPlan Orlando's Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Master Plan; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Longwood will be open to considering a future
recommendation that financial resources in the form of a local match be committed to the pilot
project once the opportunity is better defined by the United States Department of Transportation
and the specifics of the pilot project(s) have been identified.
PASSED BY THE C, TY COMIVIISSION OF LONGWOOD, FLORIDA, IN REGULAR
SESSION THIS IDAY OF JANUARY, 20
ATTEST:
Michelle go,
Approved as to form and legality for the use and reliance of the City of Longwood, Florida only.
City of Longwood Resolution 16-1393 Page 3 of 3