Project Description

System History

ITS Project Phase Description and Schedule

     Phase I

     Phase II

     Phase III

     Phase IV

     Phase V

Project Budget and Scheduling

Click here to view the City of Inglewood Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Plan.

Click here to view the Inglewood ITS Brochure.

Project Description (Top)

This project consists of the deployment and integration of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) elements in the City of Inglewood (City). It has evolved from a single-phase local project to a four-phase, multi-jurisdictional project. The main purpose of this project is to enhance traffic operations and management as well as improve and promote agency coordination.

System History (Top)

The City is located immediately east of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The City has about 120,000 residents in an area less than 9 square miles with 155 signalized intersections. In addition to airport traffic, the City is impacted by the I-105 and I-405 Freeways. Most City arterials carry upwards of 40,000 vehicles each day.

In 1976, the City was the first of its size, in the nation, to have a computerized traffic control system using the Urban Traffic Control System (UTCS) established by the Federal Highway Administration. TRW was the original consultant for the system, and nearly $2 million was spent design and installation.

From 1978 to 1982, the City utilized the firm of De Leuw Cather to upgrade the system by installing an “Extended UTCS” system, an improved version of the early ITS. However, due to hardware limitations, the system never performed up to its potential.

By 1987, the capabilities of personal computers had improved and the old mini-computer systems had become obsolete. In addition, the City’s hardware supplier was no longer in business and the mini-computer maintenance contract exceeded $10,000 a year. The computer room’s fire prevention system was in continuous need of repair and was expensive to maintain. Finally, the UTCS was technically very difficult to use and only one engineer on staff knew how to operate it on a daily basis. The City was forced to consider a more cost-effective and user-friendly solution.

After one year of research, comparing all available systems in the market, the City determined that the only solution would be an off-the-shelf system that could be repaired and maintained with in-house staff. The only system that would fulfill this requirement was Bi-Tran’s QUICNET system. Therefore, the City became the first QUICNET system user in Southern California. The complete system, including several IBM PCs, was $37,500. This new system had more functions and capacity than the Extended UTCS System.

From 1988 to 2001, the QUICNET performed satisfactorily in all aspects. Nonetheless, telecommunication technology and PC workstations improved so rapidly that it became possible to upgrade the City’s traffic management system with a state-of-the-art ITS system. From 1997 to 1999, the Public Works Department was successful in securing $3 million ($1.5 million Federal Appropriations and $1.52 million MTA’s Call funding) for ITS deployment and integration.

Starting with the $3 million, the City planned a simple two-phase ITS project, including a central traffic management computer system, closed circuit television using fiber optic cable in streets, and interconnection with other ITS systems and the City’s GIS map. Through a competitive selection process, the City selected Meyer Mohaddes Associates as the project consultant. Between 1999 and 2002, $4 million in additional funds were obtained and the project was expanded into five phases.

In October 2002, the City received grant funds from the Los Angeles Department of Airports (LAWA) to improve Century Boulevard. In conjunction with this Century Improvement Project and with potential Homeland Security projects, the City is now seeking additional funding for a Century Boulevard Automated Incident Management System as another ITS component. The following is a general description of the scopes of work for all the phases identified above.

ITS Project Phase Description and Schedule (Top)

Phase I (Top)

This phase was funded by 1997 and 1998 Federal appropriations ($1,500,000) with a local match ($375,000). The total funding was $1,875,000 and was completed in December 2000. This phase included the following tasks:

• Engineering & Design
• Upgrade the Traffic Management Center (TMC)
• Installation of Fiber Optic (FO) Communication System along Manchester, Prairie, and Crenshaw for improved signal and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) communications
• Installation of three CCTV cameras
• Installation of Pilot Traffic Signal Control System (TSCS) Software
• Installation of TMC FO Communication Equipment
• System Integration

Phase II (Top)

This phase is funded by the 1999 Federal appropriation and the MTA Call for Projects 97. Phase II began in June 2000. This phase of the project consists of four components:

• TSCS
• TMC Equipment and Integration
• System Design
• Initiation of the Information Exchange Network (IEN)

The first component was deployed in two stages. A pilot project was set up to put 14 signals along Crenshaw Boulevard on-line under the new traffic control system – QuicNet/4. The pilot project was successfully completed in early 2001. The ultimate TSCS has been deployed for the remaining signals and will be completed at the end of February 2003.

The second component includes the design of the TMC configuration and procurement of the TMC equipment, which includes a video wall, switcher, operator console, and touch screen control panel. It also involves the integration of various existing communication and CCTV equipment with the new TMC equipment. This component was successfully completed in early 2001.

The third component includes the design of a communication system, four CCTV cameras and three video detection systems. The communication system for Phase II will be built upon the infrastructure deployed in Phase I, and the construction will start in early 2003.

The last component of the project includes the initiation of the development of an IEN interface with the County of Los Angeles. It is expected that the design of the communication network will be completed by mid 2003.

The deployment and integration of the Phase II elements will cost approximately $2.57 million. In summary, Phase II of the project includes:

• Engineering & Design
• Installation of Pilot TSCS Software for Crenshaw Boulevard
• Installation of Ultimate TSCS Software
• Installation of TMC Equipment which includes video wall, audio/video matrix switcher, operator console, and touch screen control panel
• Installation of four new communication hubs
• Installation of approximately five miles of FO Communication System along La Cienega from Manchester to Century and along Century from La Cienega to Crenshaw
• Installation of approximately four miles of fiber optic cables in existing conduit along Manchester from La Cienega to Crenshaw and along Crenshaw from La Cienega to Century
• Installation of four CCTV Cameras at these locations: Manchester/La Brea, Manchester/Prairie, Manchester/Crenshaw, La Brea/Century
• Installation of three video detection cameras at these locations: Century/La Brea, Century/Prairie and Century/Crenshaw
• Initiate the development of an IEN interface
• Integrate the new TMC equipment with Phase I communication and camera equipment
• Develop the TMC system configuration
• Integrate the SONET communication equipment, new CCTV equipment, and video detection equipment with the existing TMC equipment and the TMC
• Integrate the TSCS with both the existing and new TMC equipment

Phase III (Top)

Phase III of the project is funded by the 2000, 2001 and 2002 Federal appropriation (50%) and 2001 MTA Calls (50%). It is scheduled to begin in June 2003 and completed by the end of 2004. This phase will include the deployment of fiber optic communication infrastructure and integration of ITS elements such as CCTV and traffic signal control integration. Integration will adopt the SHOWCASE and/or Los Angeles County Architecture. The total cost of this phase of the project is approximately $3,970,000. Phase III of the project will include:

• Engineering & Design
• Integrate the Requirement Study and Analysis
• Develop the graphical user interface (GUI)
• Hardware and software integration of CCTV camera control/monitoring/ switching, and traffic signal control system, in the TMC of Inglewood, Los Angeles, Caltrans District 7, future South Bay subregional TMC and all related hubs
• Integration of the communication system and communication inter tie hardware and software in the TMC of Inglewood, Los Angeles, Caltrans District 7 and future South Bay subregional TMC
• Installation of three CCTV Cameras at these locations: Centinela/La Brea, Florence/La Brea, and Florence/Centinela
• Installation of about three miles of fiber along Florence, Prairie, Imperial Highway and Crenshaw Boulevard
• Installation of four communication hubs at La Brea/Florence, Centinela/Florence, La Cienega/Centinela, and Prairie/Imperial Highway
• Installation of two dynamic message signs at Manchester/La Cienega and Manchester/Prairie
• Installation of six system detectors; three along Century Boulevard and three along Manchester Boulevard
• Upgrade of all 40-year-old 170 controllers to provide a better interface with the traffic signal control system

Phase IV (Top)

Phase IV of the project will be funded by the FY02 Federal appropriations and will include the development of integrated workstations and IEN interface. Integrated workstations will allow the control of all field elements and communication as well as external communication via the operator workstations. Computer hardware and software will be developed for this phase. This phase will primarily include the following items to complete the project:

• Engineering & Design
• Installation of four integrated workstations
• Develop the map display engine, CCTV control module, DMS control module, data acquisition service, data exchange service, system management service, report service for the integrated workstations
• Develop the system configuration for the integrated workstations
• Develop the hardware configuration for the integrated workstations
• Procure the hardware for the integrated workstation
• Develop the command data interface for communication between the Inglewood TMC and the Los Angeles County Information Exchange Network (IEN)

The scope of work for Phase IV will be further determined upon the finalization and completion of Phase III.

Phase V (Top)

This phase is referred to as the Century Boulevard Corridor Automated Incident Management System. It is in the initial planning stage.

Project Budget and Scheduling (Top)

Budget Status
The following table summarizes the budget status of the ITS Deployment and Integration Project:

Estimated Completion:
The following summarizes the estimated completion dates of the project:

Phase I - Completed
Phase II - August 2003
Phase III- December 2004
Phase IV- TBD
Phase V - TBD

Project Activities and Status:

Phase I

Phase I of the project is 100% complete. The evaluation of the fiber optic communication and CCTV surveillance system has been completed. An evaluation report was submitted to Caltrans and FHWA for review in December 2001.

Phase II

Phase II consists of the following major components which include:

1. Traffic control system
2. TMC equipment and integration
3. System design
4. IEN interface initiation

The Pilot project component of the first item was completed in early 2002 and the ultimate project component will be completed in February 2003. The second items have also been successfully completed. The final acceptance test for item 2 was performed in early 2002. The last two items are currently underway. The TMC communication system, CCTV camera system and video detection system will be completed by August 2003.

Other Potential ITS Components:

• South Bay Sub-Regional TMC Center
• Police/Fire Surveillances/GPS System
• Redlight Camera Integration
• Bus Speed Priority Integration