Intelligent Transportation Systems - City of Oakland

throughout the City. This is enabled through a direct video feed between the ADOT
TMC in Phoenix and the cable television station.
KTOP Cable Channel 10 is a community access television program that is currently
broadcasting in the City of Oakland. KTOP’s mission is to “provide quality programming
that seeks to mobilize the Oakland community toward civic participation, promotes civic
pride and showcases the cultural diversity that makes our city a unique and exciting
place to live and work.” Most current programming consists of coverage of City Council,
Council Committee, and other City Agency meetings but other stated KTOP priorities
include providing emergency information and serving the public information
dissemination needs of City Departments and city sponsored public agencies.
Cable Television Recommendations:
It is recommended that the City of Oakland pursue an arrangement with KTOP to
broadcast local traveler information to Oakland residents. This could involve
establishing a morning time slot on the channel dedicated traveler information for
Oakland commuters. The traveler information could be provided through a direct link
with the Oakland TMC and may include a tour of City traffic cameras at key locations or
display of a citywide traffic map similar to one that would be displayed on a web site.
The CATV agreement would most likely be a medium- or long-term initiative since it
would require first having an operational TMC and ATMS.
4.4 TRANSIT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Accommodating multiple modes of travel in the City of Oakland is important to the
overall project objectives. There are a number of ITS applications that can enhance the
efficiency of public transportation systems and improve the flow of transit information to
riders. The following discussion identifies methods or applications that can help
maintain and enhance the transit services within the City of Oakland.
4.4.1 Transit Signal Priority (TSP)
TSP is an operational strategy that facilitates the movement of buses through trafficsignal
controlled intersections. TSP can reduce transit delay and travel time by reducing
the time transit vehicles spend at intersections. This also improves transit service
reliability which increases the transit system’s quality of service.
TSP modifies the normal signal operation process without significantly impacting other
traffic. There are several possible signal treatments to provide priority to the transit
vehicles. This includes, but not limited to “early green” which shortens the green time of
a preceding phase to return to a green phase where the transit vehicle has been
detected. Another strategy is to have a “green extension” which increases the green
time for the phase where a transit vehicle has been detected. Both of these strategies
have been effectively applied throughout Bay Area communities.
TSP works at the local intersection by detecting the approaching transit vehicle
upstream of the signalized intersection and sending a call to the traffic signal controller.
Depending on when the transit vehicle is detected in relation to the controllers cycle it
may or may not trigger a signal priority event. The signal controller would then decide to
use an “early green” strategy, “green extension” or stay on the current cycle plan.
City of Oakland ITS Strategic Plan
50 September, 2003