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Consideration of request from Engineering Division to approve a State Municipal Agreement (SMA) with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) for Project ID 2994-07-02/72, C Wauwatosa Signal Controllers, a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant to upgrade the City’s traffic signal controllers as identified in the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan
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Submitted by:
Michael May, PE, PTOE, RSP1
Senior Civil Engineer - Traffic & Transportation
Department:
DPW - Engineering
A. Issue
The Engineering Division seeks the approval of an SMA with WisDOT for a CMAQ grant to replace traffic signal controllers citywide.
B. Background/Options
The City maintains 42 traffic signalized intersections. The 42 intersections undesirably operate using five different traffic signal controller models. Eight of the controllers were produced prior to modern ethernet capabilities. An additional nineteen controllers have manufacturer-identified power issues. The controllers do not operate with the same software management information bases (“MIBs”). This existing condition is a problem of inefficiencies and hurdles that make it difficult-to-impossible for engineers to communicate between devices, make it difficult for engineers and electricians to maintain, and result in costly and inefficient corridor and citywide management for road users.
The primary purpose of this CMAQ grant is to replace traffic signal controllers at 38 of the 42 signalized intersections. The end goal is to operate all intersections with the same traffic signal controller type and be fully network capable. This results in efficient traffic management, reduced user delays, and therefore reduced regional emissions. The SMA for Project ID 2994-07-02/72, C Wauwatosa Signal Controllers, represents step 1 of 3 towards meeting this end goal.
The following is a budgetary summary from the SMA. The unsigned SMA is attached to this file.
|
Cost Item |
Grant Share |
City Share |
Total Cost |
|
SMA 1: Controllers |
$212,224 |
$63,056 |
$275,280 |
Note that this budget includes the City’s costs for WisDOT design review/oversight and includes anticipated construction costs. Project design activities will be performed and/or overseen by City staff, are not reimbursable by the CMAQ grant program, and are included in the City’s 2026-2030 CIP.
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
Priority 2: Public Safety, Goal 2. Proactively address pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety.
Priority 3: Infrastructure, Goal 5. Increase alternative (non-property tax based) funding to support capital projects.
D. Fiscal Impact
This SMA represents $275,280. Of that amount, up to $212,224 represents the CMAQ grant funds to be reimbursed to the City by WisDOT for construction activities.
Funding for the Wauwatosa share of this project is included in the 2026-2030 Capital Improvements Plan. Final costs will be determined by final design and bid prices.
E. Recommendation
Approve a State Municipal Agreement (SMA) with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) for Project ID 2994-07-02/72, C Wauwatosa Signal Controllers, a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant to upgrade the City’s traffic signal controllers as identified in the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan.