1MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

The TXDOT El Paso

A CASE STUDYHighway Advisory Radio System

2MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

The Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) System project for the Texas Department of Transportation El Paso District is described from a process point-of-view and includes activities from project conception to commissioning.

Introduction

3MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Project Conception The TXDOT El Paso District needed

a way to provide the major travel corridors within the district with more travel advisory information than could be conveyed with the dynamic message signs.

4MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Overall Objective

With the large geographic area that needed coverage, a Highway Advisory Radio System was the proposed solution. 68 MILES OF FREEWAY AND LIMITED

ACCESS FACILITIES US 54 – MEXICO BORDER TO THE

NEW MEXICO BORDER INTERSTATE 10 – NEW MEXICO

BORDER TO FM 1110 US 62/180 AT LOOP 375

5MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Preliminary Feasibility Study

Before making a huge investment, the proposed solution was scrutinized. A communications assessment was performed to determine the feasibility of obtaining an available AM radio frequency for HAR licensing. FCC FREQUENCY LICENSE

SEARCH – STATION AVAILABILITY FREQUENCY SCANS –

INTERFERENCE ASSESSED PRELIMINARY BUDGET

CONSIDERATIONS

6MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Vendor Research

Vendor research for production options and operational requirements BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS WERE

ADDRESSED AS THE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS WERE REFINED

GPS SYNCHRONIZATION – NO AUDIO ECHO

CHEMICAL GROUNDING SYSTEM - REDUCED REAL ESTATE

7MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Design System

Site Selection Considerations ANTENNA MAXIMUM HEIGHT 49.2 FT

(15 M) OBSTRUCTIONS, TALL BUILDINGS CLEAR OF TREES AND SCRUBS RELATIVE ELEVATIONS

8MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Design System

Site Selection Considerations(Continued) MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OR

FLATLANDS >100 FT FROM OVERHEAD

POWER LINES UNDERGROUND UTILITIES COMMERCIAL INTERFERENCE OTHER RADIO TRANSMITTERS IN

PROXIMITY

9MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Design System

Site Selection Considerations (Continued) FREE OF SAND, ROCK, MUD, CORAL,

AND TREE ROOTS SOIL RESISTANCE RADIAL GROUND - 200 FOOT

DIAMETER CHEMICAL GROUND - 10 FOOT

DIAMETER

10MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Design System

Site Selection Considerations (Continued) POWER AVAILABILITY –

AC OR SOLAR AVAILABLE COMMUNICATIONS -

WIRELESS, FIBER, PHONE, DIGITAL CELL

PROXIMITY TO AIRPORT – FAA & FCC ISSUES

MUTCD FOR SIGN SPACING

11MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

HighlightedFeatures

Define functional features CENTRALIZED COMMAND –

INTUITIVE GUI GPS SYNCHRONIZED SYSTEM –

NO AUDIO ECHO ALL TRANSMITTING THE SAME

MESSAGE EACH TRANSMITTING INDIVIDUAL

MESSAGES GROUPS WITH VARYING MESSAGES

12MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

HighlightedFeatures

Define functional features(Continued) VOICE RECORDING – EASY ACCESS TEXT-TO-SPEECH – AUTOMATED,

DIGITIZED LANGUAGE(S) - ENGLISH / SPANISH -

TARGET AUDIENCE VOICE GENDER TYPES –

MALE / FEMALE

13MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

HighlightedFeatures

Initial 13 transmitters to 16 at full build-out

Signs with flashing beacons at 16 locations

Chemical grounding system – reduces real estate

14MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

HighlightedFeatures

Solar powered - economical HAR system hardware and software

at the Transvista control center

15MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

HighlightedFeatures

Hybrid communications to control center WIRELESS ETHERNET

INTERCONNECT OF THE HAR ANTENNAS AT 11 LOCATIONS

FIBER OPTIC ETHERNET INTERCONNECT OF THE HAR ANTENNAS AND NETWORK HUBS AT 16 LOCATIONS

REDUNDANT FIBER RINGS – ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS

FLASHING BEACONS VIA PAGERS

16MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Developing Construction Documents

Plans Specifications Opinions of

probable cost

17MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Construction Construction support Submittal reviews

18MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

Commissioning the Completed System

System acceptance testing – verify proper installation and configuration

Staff operations and maintenance training

19MARY A. HALE, P.E.Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

VICTOR DE LA GARZA, P.E.Texas Department of Transportation

The TXDOT El Paso

Highway Advisory Radio System