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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 12q - Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption Services STAFF REPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT DATE: June 16, 2026 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Chen Suen, Fire Chief By: Tom Devlin, Battalion Chief SUBJECT: PURCHASE ORDER WITH ZERO INFRASTRUCTURE MOBILITY SOLUTIONS DBA CONNECTED SIGNALS FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEXT-GENERATION EMERGENCY VEHICLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL PREEMPTION SYSTEM SERVICES IN THE AMOUNT OF $52,000 CEQA: Not a Project Recommendation: Approve SUMMARY As part of the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Equipment Acquisition Budget, funding has been allocated for the Fire Department’s Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption (“EVP”) System project to improve emergency response safety and efficiency through traffic signal prioritization in the City. This project was initiated in FY 2024-25 in partnership with Zero Infrastructure Mobility Services dba Connected Signals (“Connected Signals”) and included software customization, testing, and system integration for an initial testing period. Approval of the proposed Purchase Order will allow for full implementation, deployment, and ongoing operation of the system. It is recommended that the City Council approve a sole source Purchase Order with Zero Infrastructure Mobility Solutions dba Connected Signals for cloud-based Next- Generation Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption (“EVP”) System services, in the amount of $52,000. BACKGROUND An EVP system is designed to allow the normal operation of traffic lights to be “preempted.” Essentially, the purpose of the system is to improve the safety and PO for Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption Services June 16, 2026 Page 2 of 4 efficiency of emergency response by allowing responding vehicles to request temporary traffic signal priority during Code 3 emergencies. The proposed EVP system is designed to provide traffic signal prioritization at 64 of the City’s 65 signalized intersections by utilizing the City’s existing traffic management network. In Fiscal Year 2022-23, a trial period was provided to several traffic management systems to evaluate their ability to provide an EVP system that would work with the City’s traffic management network. Connected Signals was the only vendor that successfully demonstrated a fully functional solution capable of integrating with the City's existing wireless traffic management system, without requiring significant additional hardware or infrastructure modifications. As a two-phase project involving system build-out, including testing, monitoring, traffic signal analysis, and deployment, in FY 2024-25, the EVP System project was initiated. Connected Signals has now completed its software customization and upgrades, system integration, and deployment plan. The second phase of the project in FY 2025-26 will enable the full implementation of the EVP System with the City’s traffic management system. Procuring services from another vendor at this stage would require substantial redevelopment of existing integrations, additional testing and validation, potential infrastructure modifications, and duplication of costs already incurred by the City. DISCUSSION Based on data collected during the pilot and implementation period, there has been a noticeable improvement on the average emergency response times when the EVP system was utilized. The system also resulted in route efficiency by reducing braking events and minimizing stop-and-go driving occurrences during emergency responses, which contributed to smoother and safer vehicle operation. While emergency response times can vary based on call type, location, traffic conditions, and other operational factors, the pilot period demonstrated measurable improvements in emergency vehicle travel throughout the City when the EVP system was utilized. Connected Signals has developed a cloud-based, machine learning platform designed to provide traffic management and signal prioritization capabilities. The system requires no physical hardware installation at intersections and can be PO for Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption Services June 16, 2026 Page 3 of 4 deployed immediately after the implementation. It supports multi-intersection coordination, with customized signal timing and prioritization based on vehicle type, including elevated service priority for ambulances. Additional features include backup connectivity, caravaning functionality for coordinated vehicle movement, and a digital twin interface for real-time visualization of signal and route behavior. The proposed services include: • Deployment and maintenance of the cloud-based EVP platform; • Software customization and support for Arcadia Fire Department operations; • Integration with existing traffic management infrastructure; • Ongoing technical support and system monitoring; • Performance reporting and traffic signal analysis; and • Continued system maintenance and operational support. The total cost of the proposed services is $52,000. Following implementation, ongoing maintenance and support costs are anticipated to be approximately $19,500 annually and will be included in future operating budgets, subject to annual appropriations. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. FISCAL IMPACT The total cost for cloud-based Next-Generation Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption (“EVP”) System services is $52,000. Sufficient funds have been allocated in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Equipment Acquisition Budget for this project. The ongoing maintenance costs of $19,500 per year have been budgeted in the FY 2026-27 Fire Operating Budget and will be included in subsequent budget years, subject to annual appropriations by the City Council. PO for Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption Services June 16, 2026 Page 4 of 4 RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council find that the proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and approve a sole source Purchase Order with Zero Infrastructure Mobility Solutions dba Connected Signals for the purchase of Next-Generation Emergency Vehicle Traffic Signal Preemption System services in the amount of $52,000.