ITS Design and Technical Construction

As the Prime Consultant, Drive provided comprehensive design services and technical construction consultation for the PTC’s Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) West and Northeast Extension ITS Deployment projects. Drive led a team of subconsultants for the design and deployment of ITS systems along both corridors of the Turnpike. Drive developed the Maintenance and Protection of Traffic (MPT) plans which provided customized MPT details and special provisions on an as needed basis to support the overall ITS design. Drive was responsible for overseeing the overall ITS design of these projects with the exception of the ITS foundations and structures, which were designed by Drive’s subconsultants.

Drive led the overall Project Management, surveying of all ITS sites, and developing the Plans, Specifications, and Estimate (PS&E) packages which included utility engineering, traffic control plans, erosion and sediment control plan, and ITS plans. In addition, Drive provided assistance to the PTC during advertisement.

For the Northeast Extension, the project included the design of 12 Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) and five (5) Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV). DMS were designed at key locations suitable to provide traveler information to motorists in advance of interchanges. CCTV were designed to provide roadway surveillance along the southern section of the Northeast Extension and the Mid-County and PA 903 Interchanges. In accordance with the PTC’s design preferences and standards, DMS were designed to use wireless communications via cellular networks and the CCTV were designed to use IP communications via fiber optic cables. The CCTV were directly connected to the Eastern Regional Office or to the PA 903 Interchange Building. In addition, this project included providing construction consultation services during the deployment phase of the project.

For the DMS West project, Drive provided design services during construction required to account for the Contractor’s Request for Information (RFI) resolutions and for developing change orders to reflect changes from the original design. This project included the construction or upgrade of 12 Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) and 16 DMS located along the PTC mainline in western Pennsylvania. The project also included upgrading existing fiber optic infrastructure and converting devices that use serial communications to IP based communications. Testing and commissioning were also completed under this project.