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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Approval of a Purchase Order with Econolite Control Products for Eight Traffic Signal Video Detection Systems in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $211,904.45.
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Meeting Date: June 23, 2025
Contact Person/Dept.: Thomas Check/Public Works Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5627
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [X] No [ ]
Attachments: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Notification: E-Mail: Meetings and Agendas - City Council (06/19/2025)
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Public Works Director/City Engineer,(06/06/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a purchase order with Econolite Control Products (Econolite) for eight traffic signal video detection systems in an amount not-to-exceed $211,904.45.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Public Works Department oversees the design, procurement, installation, maintenance, operation, and signal timing of the City’s 112 signalized intersections. As part of an ongoing effort to improve bicycle, transit, and vehicular detection at these locations, the City has been transitioning to new modern video detection systems. Video detection, as opposed to older signal technologies such as inductive loops, is significantly better at detecting bicycles, drastically reducing the chances of a cyclist getting “skipped” while waiting at a red light. Video detection further enhances flexibility in traffic signal operations, such as the ability to detect bicycles and vehicles hundreds of feet in advance of an intersection and the ability to provide extended green times for bicycles to enter and clear an intersection. The new signal equipment therefore uniquely benefits bicyclists, as opposed to motorized vehicles, by improving the usability of the City’s signaled intersections and roadways for bicycle riders.
Importantly, the installation of these systems does not increase roadway capacity or encourage new vehicular trips; rather, it improves the detection of existing road users-particularly bicyclists and transit vehicles-and supports the performance of existing and planned multimodal infrastructure.
This purchase will fund the procurement of video detection systems for the following eight locations:
• Culver Boulevard & Irving Place - To replace inductive loops and improve detection for the dedicated bus/bicycle signal phase at the intersection as part of the MOVE Culver City project.
• Overland Avenue & Franklin Avenue/Farragut Street - To replace inductive loops and improve bicycle detection on the Overland Avenue corridor as part of the Better Overland Project.
• Overland Avenue & Jefferson Boulevard - To replace inductive loops and improve bicycle detection on the Overland Avenue corridor as part of the Better Overland Project.
• Sepulveda Boulevard & Centinela Avenue - To replace malfunctioning video detection that regularly fails to detect bicycles.
• Slauson Avenue & Hannum Avenue - To replace inductive loops and improve bicycle detection on the Overland Avenue corridor as part of the Better Overland Project.
• Washington Boulevard & Ince Boulevard - To replace old video detection that is operable; to improve detection for the dedicated bus/bicycle signal phases at the intersection as part of the MOVE Culver City project.
• Washington Place & Sepulveda Boulevard - To replace old video detection equipment that is no longer operable and has reached the end of its serviceable life.
• Washington Boulevard & Motor Avenue - To replace inoperable inductive loop detection.
Pursuant to Culver City Municipal Code Section 3.07.055.B, competitive bidding requirements shall not apply when the equipment being procured is a component for equipment or a system of equipment previously acquired by the City and is necessary to repair, maintain, or improve the City's utilization of the equipment. The City currently uses Econolite video detection systems at several intersections throughout the City, and this procurement will improve the City’s utilization of this system of equipment by improving multimodal detection throughout the City. Accordingly, this procurement falls within this exception.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 includes sufficient funding to cover $96,474.67 of the total cost of $211,904.45 in the Public Works Mobility & Traffic Engineering Division and Maintenance Operations Division operating budgets and in CIP Project No. PS017 (Tactical Mobility Lane).
• $50,000 from Account No. 10160240.732120 (Electrical Maintenance - Departmental Special Equipment)
• $30,000 from Account No. 10160170.514100 (Mobility and Traffic Engineering - Departmental Special Supplies)
• $16,474.67 from CIP Account No. 43580000.730100.PS017 (Tactical Mobility Lane)
This funding will be used to procure the systems for the following locations to support improved multimodal detection:
• Culver Boulevard & Irving Place
• Washington Boulevard & Ince Boulevard
• Washington Place & Sepulveda Boulevard
• Washington Boulevard & Motor Avenue
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 includes sufficient funding for the remaining balance of $115,429.78 in Account No. 10160240.732120 (Public Works Electrical Maintenance - Departmental Special Equipment), Account No. 10160170.514100 (Mobility and Traffic Engineering - Departmental Special Supplies), and CIP Project No. PZ429 (Traffic Signal Replace/Upgrade).
This funding will be used to procure the systems for the following intersections to support improved multimodal detection. Specifically, the new systems will improve detection along existing bike lanes on Centinela Avenue and existing and planned bike lanes on Overland Avenue as part of the Better Overland Project:
• Centinela Avenue & Sepulveda Boulevard
• Overland Avenue & Franklin Avenue/Farragut Street
• Overland Avenue & Jefferson Boulevard
• Slauson Avenue & Hannum Avenue
ATTACHMENTS
None.
MOTIONS
That the City Council:
1. Approve a purchase order with Econolite Control Products for eight traffic signal video detection systems in an amount not-to-exceed $211,904.45; and
2. Authorize the Purchasing Officer to execute the purchase order on behalf of the City.