The purpose of this assignment was to develop a Strategic Plan for the Port Authority’s Central Traffic Signal System and Transportation Mobility Center (TMC), with a focus on the centralized signal system. The TMC currently facilitates traffic engineers’ review of facility operations and signal status monitoring at 4 WTC. Currently, the PA Traffic Engineering Operations Group monitors 77 of the agency’s more than 125 traffic signals from a central traffic signal system, Siemens TACTICS. TACTICS is currently monitored by the Traffic Engineering Operations Group staff from the 4 WTC Transportation Mobility Center. Integration of TACTICS into the Agency-wide Transportation Management Software (ATMS) is currently underway. However, these software packages have limited functionality compared with various newer systems. With the FHWA’s Smart City and Signal Phasing and Timing (SPaT) Challenge Initiatives, the PA recognizes that the future involves smart signal technology and wishes to be prepared to enhance and deploy equipment that will meet current and future best practices.
As a subconsultant, SI Engineering, P.C. (SIE) assisted in developing a Traffic Signal System and Louis E. Bender Transportation Mobility Center Strategic Plan, which provided an overview of the current systems and a roadmap to future operations. The Strategic Plan summarized the needs and requirements of the various Engineering stakeholders and defined system goals along with strategies, solutions, methods, and techniques to accomplish these goals. In addition, it documented and described modes of operation, user and stakeholder interfaces, and high-level scope for future system needs. The document described operational policies and constraints that applied to the current operational environment. Utilizing a workshop-driven approach, evaluations were conducted of the operating procedures and functionality of the existing operations at the TMC. In addition, recommendations were developed for improvements to the functionality and efficiency using existing software and hardware to support recommended functions.
SIE provided support throughout the project and incorporated memos to create the Strategic Plan Reports. These memos synthesized the information gathered through interviews and workshops with PA staff. SIE staff was additionally responsible for reviewing the Strategic Plan drafts and incorporating comments from Port Authority.
