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City frames traffic‑signal prioritization plan and authorizes design contract
Summary
Staff described the Transit Signal Prioritization (TSP) program that pairs on‑vehicle hardware with intersection equipment to speed public transit and improve reliability; the board authorized $2,525,200 for engineering services to develop the TSP design and vendor selection process.
City staff and transit partners briefed the MAPS Citizens Advisory Board on traffic‑signal prioritization (TSP), a technology package to improve transit predictability by coordinating vehicle equipment, GPS/GIS, and traffic controller interfaces at intersections.
Jason Cotton prefaced the item, explaining TSP’s objectives: improve service frequency and on‑time performance for high‑occupancy transit vehicles, reduce round‑trip time, and maintain acceptable impacts for other roadway users. He described the planning work required — system readiness assessment, interoperability with existing Oklahoma City traffic systems, vendor evaluation and selection, and a basis‑of‑design to make the system scalable and maintainable across the city. Cotton emphasized that Embark (the public transit agency) and the City’s Public Works traffic staff must be partners in design and later operations.
The nut graf: the board approved contracting a design team to produce the TSP basis‑of‑design, updated plans for procurement, and construction administration work that will enable procurement of the system and vendor selection. The MAPS board authorized $2,525,200 to be reallocated from construction to design to fund the professional services agreement with the consultant team who will prepare the preliminary and final design and assist with vendor selection.
Cotton noted long‑range factors to consider — the 2028 Olympics, planned BRT expansions and future route changes — and emphasized that the design needs to be adaptable. The design team’s tasks include a system readiness assessment, review of Embark’s system performance, vendor selection support, and preparation of bidding and construction administration documents. Staff framed the contract as an early, necessary step to advance a $12 million council intent for buses and signal prioritization.
Board action: the board moved, seconded and approved the professional services authorization. Members had no substantive objections in the public discussion.
Next steps: the design team will complete the system assessment, support vendor selection and produce the documentation necessary for the city to procure and install the TSP components, with Embark and Public Works engaged throughout the process.
