Intelligent Transportation Systems - City of Oakland

SECTION 6
Communications Network
6.1 COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK OVERVIEW
The City of Oakland is an important and strategically located community in the heart of
the East Bay. Major traffic generators such as the Oakland Airport, Coliseum, Port of
Oakland and the CBD are located in the City and are growing or are being redeveloped.
Traffic management is the key to the successful growth of Oakland and has a direct
impact on the quality of life of East Bay residents and the success and efficiency of
businesses operating in the City.
One of the key elements of a successful traffic management system is the
communication capability and interconnectivity of the citywide ITS system. The traffic
management system requires communication infrastructure to control and communicate
with the ITS field elements and to share data and communicate with other agencies in
the Bay Area.
In the following sections of this document, the citywide communication alternatives will
be presented and recommendations will be provided. The objective of this section is to
ensure that the City of Oakland has a reliable and expandable communications
infrastructure for its citywide ITS system and that compatibility exists between the
various communications networks within the City.
6.2 EXISTING COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE
The use of existing communications infrastructure ensures cost efficiency and allows for
major gains in the deployment of the citywide communications infrastructure. The
following existing communication infrastructure has been identified and could be utilized
if the conduit is found to be in satisfactory condition. This information is based on
existing reports and is not meant to be a complete inventory of all existing infrastructure.
A more detailed study of the existing communications infrastructure and their condition is
required before major network architecture decisions are made.
6.2.1 Traffic Signal Interconnect
Traffic signal interconnect conduit accounts for the majority of existing transportationrelated
infrastructure. This conduit typically has copper TWP or fiber optic interconnect
and could be reused or replaced to facilitate network requirements. The existing and
planned City of Oakland traffic signal interconnect projects discussed in Section 2.7.1
are an important part of the City’s communications infrastructure. They are summarized
again below with a focus on their connectivity to the TMC.
• Downtown Signal Interconnect - On San Pablo Avenue, TWP interconnect exists
between 14 th Street and Alcatraz and to the City of Oakland Building located at 250
Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, which will house the planned TMC. On the north side of the
CBD, there is existing or planned TWP interconnect on West Grand/Grand Avenue
City of Oakland ITS Strategic Plan
65 September, 2003