For the past three years, Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) District IV developed an annual report for the SMART SunGuide Transportation Management Center (TMC) to review the performance of ITS operations and estimate a return-on-investment - calculated using benefit cost analysis. The benefit costs analysis was conducted by the Lehman Center for Transportation Research at Florida International University in Miami, Florida.

FDOT costs associated with the District IV SunGuide TMC are presented in the table below as are the 2006 annualized cost used in the benefit-cost calculation. The 2006 annualized cost equals $9,905,153 and total 2006 benefit of the SMART SunGuide TMC equals $142,354,872, yielding a benefit-cost ratio of 14.94. As another means to measure the success of the ITS Program, the Net Present Value (NPV) was calculated for the first time. The 2006 NPV was $1.2 billion. A seven percent interest rate and 15 year time span were used in the calculation. The benefit-cost ratio has increased at a steady rate for the past three years with the 2006 ratio nearly double that of 2004.
 

Deployment	Estimated Capital Cost	Estimated Current Operations Costs	Estimated Maintenance Cost	Annualized Cost ($/year)
SMART SunGuide TMC	$6,700,000	$1,792,555	$320,265	$2,745,300
Software Support		$250,000		$250,000
General Consultant		$400,000		$400,000
Road Ranger		$2,500,000		$2,500,000
Severe Incident Response Vehicle		$500,000		$500,000
Dynamic Message Signs	$11,000,000	$22,320	$620,000	$2,208,7200
Traffic Incident Management (TIM)		$200,000		$200,000
CCTV and Detection System (Phase I)	$2,845,462		$254,000	$597,277
CCTV and Detection System (Phase II)	$15,520,168			$253,856
ATIS System (511)		$250,000		$250,000
TOTAL	$36,065,630	$5,914,875	$1,194,265	$9,905,153

The SMART SunGuide TMC became operational in September 2004. The TMC houses several partners all of whom are involved in the management and control of the surface transportation system in Broward County. Along with FDOT District IV, the Broward County Traffic Engineering Division (BCTED), Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), and Broward County Transit share the facility. The TMC is approximately 42,000 square feet and was built at a cost of $11 million (which includes $2 million for ITS networks, equipment, and computer systems). The FDOT District IV cost share for the physical building was $6.7 million. Operating costs for 2006 were estimated at $1,792,555. Annual maintenance costs are for utilities (e.g., power, water) and are estimated at $320,265. The operations and maintenance costs reflect FDOT’s share.

Estimates of the operating costs for software support and consultants were called out separately for 2006; $250,000 and $400,000, respectively.

Road Ranger is the highway service patrol in Broward County. The $2.5 million annual cost of the Road Ranger program includes contracted services and leased vehicle. The program utilizes 11 vehicles covering approximately 58 centerline miles on portions of I-95 and I-75, and all of I-595. Road Rangers provide 24-hour service as follows:

11 vehicles patrol each weekday 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
6 vehicles patrol each week night 7:00 pm – 6:00 am
6 vehicles patrol each weekend day and night shift

The Severe Incident Response Vehicle (SIRV) program provides a 24 hour incident command station and support to FDOT and Road Rangers during major incidents such a tractor trailer rollovers, HazMat and fatalities. For 2006, the cost to operate the program (services are contracted out) was $500,000. Originally launched as a pilot program, the SIRV program was awarded in October 2006 funding through 2012. The first phase of funding will provide two SIRV vehicles and staff to run the program in Broward County. The second phase of funding will provide two SIRV vehicles and staff for Palm Beach County.

The $11 million capital cost for the dynamic message signs (DMS) includes 31 signs to include associated structures, foundation, controllers, cabinets, and installation, plus approximately 37 miles of in-ground fiber optics communications. The estimated $22,320 in operating costs covers electricity. The estimated maintenance cost of $620,000 includes spare parts, and labor for trouble-shooting problems and conducting preventative maintenance. DMS maintenance is contracted out. FDOT notes that employing an ITS maintenance contractor “…helps to avoid/minimize system downtime, reduces total cost of operation, improves effectiveness, and extends the life of ITS assets.” The deployments of 41 additional DMS are planned for 2007.

Traffic Incident Management (TIM) services are contracted out at approximately $200,000 for 2006. Services include hosting and coordinating meetings with the broader multi-agency TIM team to provide, discuss and improve operational services related to incident management throughout South Florida.

For 2006, 45 closed circuit TV (CCTV) cameras and 106 detectors (side-fire radar at 67 sites) were programmed for deployment. The cost to deploy the equipment including installation and associated structures, foundation, cabinets, and controllers was $2,845,462. The CCTV cameras and detectors make use of the fiber optics communications mentioned under the DMS deployment. Maintenance cost for 2006 are estimated at $254,000 (for the Phase I devices, this does not include the DMS/fiber optics deployment). Maintenance is contracted out and includes trouble-shooting and preventive maintenance. The number of CCTV cameras will increase to a total of 95 and the number of vehicle detection stations will increase to a total of 170 during 2007.

The costs for the second phase of CCTV camera and detector deployment are estimated at $15,520,168. During this phase, approximately 50 additional CCTV cameras, 10 additional DMS, and 103 additional detectors are programmed for deployment. Costs include equipment and associated structures, foundations, cabinets, controllers, and installation, as well as approximately 50 miles of in-ground fiber optics communications. Operations and maintenance costs are unknown at this time; this service will be advertised in the spring of 2007.

The $250,000 for Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) reflects FDOT District IV’s estimated cost for Broward County’s contribution to the Southeast Florida 511 System, a multi-agency collaboration.

See also: link to the system cost summary for the 2005 Annual Report SMART SunGuide Transportation Management Center (TMC).