Western Wake Traffic Signal System Integration Study Background

The North Carolina Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) is seeking assistance in developing a study to regionalize ITS systems, including integrating traffic signal systems from multiple jurisdictions into one transportation signal system. CAMPO is inviting submittals from professional consultants who are experienced in planning and implementing ITS systems regionally. Recommendations including guidance and implementation step details from this study should be fit for use in other areas across North Carolina where regional ITS signal system integration efforts would be applicable.

Expected outcomes of this study are:

• Guidance on the integration of traffic signal systems specifically tailored to the Town of Cary and Town of Morrisville. The guidebook would outline specific implementation steps on how to integrate the Town of Morrisville signal system into the Town of Cary existing ATMS while continuing to maintain current operational and maintenance levels, as well as maintain high safety standards. Implementation steps should be comprehensive enough to be actionable.
• Review of funding opportunities. Review of all currently funded ITS TIP projects and evaluation of needed projects for full implementation of a western Wake ITS system. Evaluation should include identification of any other funding opportunities including partnership funding, state funding, local funding, coordination with existing roadway and transit projects, as well as other competitive and non-competitive opportunities. Evaluation should also include identifying strategic project implementation prioritized by year.
• Peer reviews of recent signal system integrations from other areas around the nation. Reviews would include best practices that could be applied to the triangle region as a whole, while specifically focusing on issues and concerns identified as important to the western Wake ITS integration.
• Infrastructure evaluation of all signal systems within stakeholder jurisdictions with close coordination with NCDOT. Evaluation would include maps and identification of all existing and planned signal system infrastructure within Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina, who is currently operating and maintaining them, the examination of the potential need for additional traffic management centers, and long term maintenance requirements to sustain the system.
• Detailed guidance on any additional implementation steps or studies needed for future integration of Apex, Holly Springs, and Fuquay-Varina traffic signal systems into one western Wake signal system. The guidebook would provide a blueprint for how the process could be replicated with additional municipalities or other regions of North Carolina.
• Any necessary agreements needed to share system data, assign maintenance responsibilities and access, and assign legal liabilities. Suggested language for agreements is expected to be provided, and would be used as potential templates during regional ITS coordination.
• A Technical Steering Committee will consist of study partners including CAMPO and NCDOT, as well as the towns of Cary, Morrisville, Apex, Holly Springs, and FuquayVarina. Other representatives may be included as necessary throughout the study process. It is expected the Consultant will engage with the Technical Steering Committee regularly, typically on a monthly basis, depending on current project work and deliverables.
• Targeted stakeholder outreach as necessary and appropriate.

The Western Wake Traffic Signal System Integration Study will be funded by the Capital Area MPO. The consultant(s) will be expected to coordinate with and oversee project committees, including staff from the Capital Area MPO, NCDOT, and Towns of Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, and Morrisville.

This study is anticipated to be completed within an approximate timeframe of 18 months during two (2) fiscal years with a Notice to Proceed issued in early January 2021, and completion by late June 2022.