Council hears traffic‑data demo; staff recommends trial to support grant requests

Council members reviewed a traffic‑speed and volume demonstration intended to support enforcement and grant applications.

A staff presenter demonstrated a map‑based product that reports minimum, maximum and average speeds, daily vehicle volumes and collision indicators for selectable road segments. The presenter said the dataset relies on GPS traces and vehicle chips for roughly 2005‑and‑newer vehicles and estimated system detection at about 80% of traffic. The presenter noted that the product does not provide VINs or other personally identifying information and described it as distinct from license‑plate‑reading systems. "It's 80% accurate," the presenter said; "it provides volume, minimum and maximum speeds, average speeds, and it's 80% accurate."

Staff recommended taking a one‑month free trial (vendor offered historical backfill of several months) and, if useful, a one‑year paid subscription priced in the presentation at $9,500. The council asked how the vendor derived the 22,000 vehicles/day figure shown for the primary corridor, whether the product could show Main Street and other local roads, and whether the data could strengthen grant requests to UDOT or county funds. The presenter said the vendor can narrow time windows, provide collision data and create targeted reports for grant applications.

Councilors raised privacy and enforcement questions; a staff member reiterated the vendor's statement that no identifying vehicle data would be provided, and members discussed using the trial data to justify traffic calming devices or grant applications. No procurement action was taken; staff will schedule a full demo for council members in November and the council indicated it will consider the subscription in December or leave the decision to the incoming council.