RFQ 194354 Traffic Network Communication Switch Replacement/Update

The Office of Transportation is seeking to procure approximately 105 network switches to replace aging equipment at the City’s signalized intersections and to ensure the continued reliability, security, and performance of the centralized traffic management system. The existing switches are approximately twelve years old and have reached the end of their recommended service life. Replacement of this equipment is necessary to maintain secure and stable communications between field devices and the traffic management center, support real-time operations and system monitoring, and ensure compatibility with current and emerging Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies.

The City of Palo Alto's traffic signal system consists of 102 signalized intersections and several primary working hubs including at City Hall and the Municipal Service Center. The intersections are managed by a centralized traffic management system, and each intersection communicates to the centralized traffic management servers via the City's fiber optic and communications network. At each intersection, the fiber network physically connects into traffic signal control cabinet connects through a network edge switch. At primary city facilities such as City Hall and the Municipal Service Center (MSC), the fiber network connects to the City's main fiber network with connections to network core switches.

The traffic system's current network switches are approximately twelve years old, and per the recommendation of the City's Information Technology (IT) Department, these switches should be replaced and upgraded every six to ten years. The Office of Transportation (OOT) has initiated this procurement process in coordination with the City's IT and Electric Utilities Department.

The OOT has secured regional grant funding through Santa Clara County's Measure B - Local Streets and Roads program, to fully fund the hardware costs of this project. OOT Staff anticipates a staged procurement and roll-out of edge switches to 102 signalized intersections, and core switches to at least two of the City's primary operating locations (City Hall and the MSC), possibly adding a third location at the City's new public safety building.

Upgrading of the traffic system switches will allow direct and instant access between the traffic management centers and each signalized intersection with efficient, secure, and optimal redundancy. In addition, the upgraded communications will further enable implementation of emerging ITS technologies, collection of operation and performance measures of the traffic signals.