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Commission approves TMPL 2026–27 list; staff outlines controller swaps and interim cellular communications ahead of fiber
Summary
The commission approved the 2026–27 Traffic Management Project List, increasing the TMPL budget and prioritizing school-area safety projects; staff also briefed commissioners on a multi-year plan to replace legacy traffic controllers (about 140 units), deploy interim cellular modems, and transition to fiber optics as funding and permits allow.
On July 9 the commission approved the Traffic Management Project List (TMPL) for fiscal year 2026–27 and heard a multi-year update on traffic capital projects, including controller replacements and communications upgrades.
Engineer Ashley Bides said the TMPL budget increased from $50,000 to $200,000 for FY 2026–27 and proposed school-focused improvements and RRFB (rectangular rapid-flashing beacon) installations, with seven base-bid school locations and two additive alternates pending available budget. "So the TMPL 26 27 fiscal year project proposal...the recommended action is for a commission to approve the traffic management project list, fiscal year 26 27," Bides said.
City Traffic Engineer Ali Shad and project manager Craig Williams briefed commissioners on a separate capital program to replace aging traffic controllers (170E-era equipment) and restore reliable communications. Williams said the city has procured roughly 138–140 new controllers under a Caltrans highway-safety-improvement grant that covers about 50% of project cost; controllers will be received in batches (20–30 units at a time), programmed, and deployed beginning in the fall, with expected completion in early 2027. As an interim communications solution, staff will install cellular modems at signals while negotiating longer-term fiber-optic connections with a private fiber provider; the cellular links will also serve as redundancy after fiber is in place.
Commissioners asked about delivery schedules, left-turn timing and community impacts during installation. Staff said installations will be staged and coordinated with consultants to restore signal timing along prioritized corridors once equipment is in place. The TMPL motion passed 5–0; the controller and communications work was presented as an informational update and will proceed per the multi-year procurement and installation schedule.
