|
Previous Council Item |
Next Council Item | Corresponding Agenda |
| List of Council Meetings | List of Reports to Council | Sunnyvale Home Page |
May 16, 2000
SUBJECT: INSTALLATION OF A RADIO TRANSMITTER TO BROADCAST TRAFFIC REPORTS IN SUNNYVALE—STUDY ISSUE (00-168)
REPORT IN BRIEF
City staff has examined the potential of establishing a City owned and operated radio transmitter to provide traffic reports to residents and visitors using major roadways in Sunnyvale. Based on current levels of traffic congestion, staff recommends that we take the initiative to provide traffic reports to local radio and television news media when greater than normal levels of traffic congestion occur, rather than installing a radio transmitter. This approach should result in a more effective means to distribute information about unusual traffic congestion on specific City roadway segments.
At the same time, City staff recognizes that levels of traffic congestion are changing. Staff also recommends that factors that lead to traffic congestion are regularly monitored, and that research continue on other local governments’ use of radio transmitters to broadcast local traffic conditions. This will allow City staff to continue to examine the feasibility of establishing a City-owned radio station so staff can rapidly respond if and when Council directs staff to take this action.
BACKGROUND
The Council included this issue as part of the FY 2000 Council Study Issue Calendar at the December 1999 workshop. The purpose of the study issue was "to investigate the feasibility of installing a low-to-medium power AM radio transmitter that would broadcast updates on traffic patterns to drivers in Sunnyvale." A six-member task team was formed to complete the research required and to develop a staff recommendation. Four departments were represented on the task team: Public Works, Public Safety, Information Technology, and the Office of the City Manager. Four key issues were addressed as part of the research effort:
EXISTING POLICY or practices
Currently, City staff provides information on local traffic conditions when requested by local media. This will be referred to as Alternative No. 1 later in this report. The following City policy offers direction on this study issue: "Land Use Transportation Element (LUTE) Goal C3: Attain a transportation system that is effective, safe, pleasant, and convenient."
DISCUSSION
Existing Levels of Traffic Congestion
In most cities, traffic reaches some level of congestion during the morning and afternoon rush hours on major roadways at signalized intersections. There are five conditions that can contribute to higher than acceptable levels of traffic congestion: roadway capacity, accidents that delay traffic, roadway construction that temporarily closes traffic lanes or restricts traffic flow, traffic signal malfunctions, or public safety emergencies.
Roadway Capacity
Traffic Engineering collects information on the number of vehicles using major roadways during morning and afternoon commute times. Charts showing average traffic volumes for Mathilda Avenue, Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road, and Wolfe Road for northbound and southbound traffic during rush hour time periods are attached to this report. Mathilda Avenue operates below or at capacity during both rush hours. Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road operates at or below capacity for the morning rush hour and only slightly above capacity during some time periods for the afternoon rush hour. Wolfe Road operates at or slightly above capacity for the morning rush hour and below capacity for the evening rush hour. It is also interesting to note that traffic volumes declined in 1999 on both Mathilda Avenue and Wolfe Road for both rush hours. Traffic volumes on Sunnyvale-Saratoga declined for most time periods in 1999, as compared with previous years. Workforce reductions at Lockheed Martin is an example of the type of changes in business generated traffic that have contributed to these drops in traffic volumes.
Traffic Accidents
Public Safety collects information on traffic accidents that occur at intersections on major roadways in Sunnyvale. A total of 23 intersections have experienced four or more traffic accidents from July 14, 1999 through April 25, 2000 during morning, mid-day, or afternoon rush hours. The intersections with the highest number of accidents to date are:
A total of 76 accidents have occurred at these six intersections during 196 weekdays at these intersections. This represents .387 accidents per weekday.
Also, it does not appear that traffic accidents on the Wolfe Road, Mathilda Avenue, and Sunnyvale-Saratoga corridors are generating higher than normal levels of traffic congestion on a regular basis. A total of 31 accidents have occurred between July 14, 1999 and April 25, 2000 at these intersections on the Wolfe Road corridor, which represents .107 accidents per day. A total of 21 accidents have occurred during the same time period at these intersections on the Mathilda Avenue corridor, which represents .076 accidents per day. None of these intersections is located on the Sunnyvale-Saratoga corridor.
Roadway Construction
The City has 10 roadway improvement projects underway this fiscal year. Four projects are occurring on or intersecting major north/south roadways. However, the construction firms selected by the City for these projects must have a traffic impact mitigation plan approved prior to work beginning. Mitigation plans include the provision that no work that results in lane blockages or closures can occur during the morning and evening rush hours.
Traffic Signal Malfunctions
Three situations can result in a traffic signal malfunctioning at a major intersection. A vehicle hits a traffic signal control box, damaging or destroying it. Electrical power to the traffic signal or control box is interrupted. The signal or control box experiences some type of mechanical or computer failure. These three situations rarely occur. On the average, Traffic Engineering estimates that 4-6 traffic signal malfunctions occur annually when a traffic signal is completely non-operational. Traffic delays are minimized because of rapid response procedures in place. Public Safety Officers are assigned to direct traffic, or Public Works staff installs temporary traffic control devices to keep traffic moving through the intersection. The City’s traffic signal maintenance contractor is required to respond promptly to these occurrences.
Public Safety Emergencies
Major crimes, fires, natural disasters, or civil disobedience that affect traffic congestion at a major intersection rarely happen. If these events do occur, it is more likely that large sections of the city would be affected rather than a specific intersection.
Radio Station Components
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provides licenses for local governments to own and operate either AM or low power FM radio stations. The FCC waives the application fee for local government; however, it may take up to six months to receive a FCC license. The FCC can issue AM radio station licenses at any time. Licenses are for five years and may be renewed. These licenses restrict the use of the radio station to only providing information. No music or commercial advertising is allowed. The FCC will take applications for low power FM radio stations during a five-day window later this month; specific timeframes have not been determined. Low power FM licenses are harder to secure but provide more flexibility in programming.
A 10-watt AM radio station would provide a coverage radius of 3-5 miles from the antenna site. A higher wattage station would expand the coverage radius. The station would require a radio transmitter, computer support equipment, battery backup, telephone lines, and an antenna. The antenna could be installed on a City building or facility, or mounted on an existing 1-2 story building. Antenna height (if free standing) or mounting location does not significantly affect signal range. If the antenna was installed at the Corporation Yard, signal coverage would include portions of Highways 101, 237, 85, and 280 near the city, and all major roadways in the city.
An AM station would play a continuous information loop 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Existing technology allows for the information loop to be updated as needed to report changing traffic conditions. City employees may update the loop by using a telephone, similar to updating a voice mail message. Some local governments have centralized the radio station operations in one department (i.e. City Manager’s Office), through a specific function (i.e. Public Information Officer), or allow multiple departments access to updating the information loop.
Examples of Local Government Radio Stations
City staff contacted nine local governments in California that own and/or operate local radio stations. They are:
Most operate AM radio stations to provide information on local traffic conditions. The City of Sacramento operates a full service FM radio station, which broadcasts sponsored community access programming, plays music, hosts live talk shows, and employs live disc jockeys to deliver programming. Two Southern California cities (Los Angeles and Inglewood) operate AM stations to provide traffic information for specific, high traffic volume facilities (i.e. an international airport and sports complex). The City of Menlo Park and Northern Mono County operate an AM station only for emergency broadcasts. Volunteers operate two stations (Northern Mono County and San Mateo County); other local government stations use paid employees for station operation requirements. The City of Saratoga’s radio station has been operating for 10 years; others began operations this year. City staff has not been able to find any local government owned and operated radio station that has surveyed local residents or employees at local businesses to determine if they use the local radio station to learn about local traffic conditions.
Conclusion
Average traffic volumes declined during 1999 on Mathilda Avenue, Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road, and Wolfe Road. In addition, all three roads are operating below capacity during most time periods for both morning and afternoon rush hours. The number of traffic accidents at intersections on these three roadways does not regularly generate higher than normal traffic congestion. Traffic signal malfunctions or public safety emergencies do not regular occur or result in traffic congestion. At the present time, these conditions are not regularly generating levels of traffic congestion that would warrant establishing a radio station to broadcast traffic conditions. City staff believes that it is more appropriate to reserve this approach if and when higher than normal traffic congestion becomes a more regular problem.
FISCAL IMPACT
Alternative No. 1
There would be no additional costs for this alternative. City staff currently provides traffic condition reports when requested by local news media.
Alternative No. 2
City staff estimates that an additional 200 hours annually (150 hours for Public Safety personnel and 50 hours for Public Works personnel) would be required for this alternative. Estimated cost would be $10,500.
Alternative No.3
The City would incur one-time capital costs, ongoing equipment maintenance costs, telephone line rental fees, and personnel expenses if it decided to own and operate an AM radio station. Other local governments’ capital equipment costs have varied. The City of Torrance spent $30,000 for start up equipment needs. Most local governments reported that they spend $8,000-$18,000 on startup equipment. Annual equipment maintenance costs ranged from $1,000-$2000. Telephone line fees would be about $400 annually. In most local governments, city employees spend 4-8 hours per week (208-416 hours annually) to operate the radio station and update traffic information. Our estimated personnel costs would be approximately $15,500. There may be minor expenses if a consultant was used to prepare the FCC application.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda in public places, on the City’s web page, and the publication of the general business/public hearing items in the San Jose Mercury News.
ALTERNATIVES
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Alternative No. 2 as described above.
Prepared by:
Charles J. Schwabe
Deputy City Manager
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager
Attachments
|
Previous Council Item |
Next Council Item | Corresponding Agenda |
| List of Council Meetings | List of Reports to Council | Sunnyvale Home Page |