City approves pilot of Rhythm Traffic AI signal system at three intersections

The city authorized a sole-source pilot of Rhythm Traffic’s AI-enabled traffic-signal system to test automated vehicle detection, counts and coordinated signal timing at three closely spaced intersections on Portland.

City staff said the test will evaluate whether the vendor’s technology can recommend signal-timing changes and coordinate three back-to-back intersections to reduce congestion. Assistant Public Works Director Brandon Bundy described the product as "out of Kansas City" and said staff want to "beta test a few different sites." Bundy said the pilot site is "a pretty heavily congested corridor" and that the system will both "detect traffic" and "count traffic, and then it'll suggest changes in the signal timing."

The pilot was presented as a sole-source procurement. When a councilmember asked whether the item had been through an RFP, Bundy replied, "This is going to be a sole source." Other councilmembers asked staff to confirm the three intersections chosen for the test; Bundy identified them in the meeting as "hundred and 60 fourth, hundred and 70 eighth, and hundred 90 second."

Councilmembers moved to approve the pilot and conducted a voice vote; the motion passed. The motion was moved by Linda (councilmember) and seconded by Christopher (councilmember), according to the meeting record. No detailed vote tally was recorded in the transcript.

Staff said the pilot would show whether the technology’s recommendations can be used in future signal-timing decisions. Bundy and councilmembers discussed costs only briefly in the meeting; staff did not provide a line-item price during the presentation.