City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of Acceptance of a Subgrant from the Department of Homeland Security, Urban Area Security Initiative to Install Backup Power Systems at Critical Traffic Signals.
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ISSUE: Consideration of acceptance of a subgrant from the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of the National Capital Region (NCR) to purchase battery backup power systems at critical traffic signals.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
(1) Authorize the City Manager to accept a subgrant from the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant program; and
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute all the necessary documents that may be required.
BACKGROUND: Traffic signal engineers across the region have identified gaps in traffic signal power backup along numerous regional evacuation routes. The City of Alexandria has no battery backup power systems installed at any of its traffic signals, so during power outages the current practice is to deploy portable gas powered generators to signals without power. Since the majority of the traffic signals in the City do not have a generator transfer switch, extra time is required to disconnect the electrical service and connect the generator. This reduces the efficiency of staff responding to widespread outages.
The region has an interest in the resiliency of traffic signals because an interruption in electrical power at a key traffic signal can have major regional traffic impacts. This is especially true during emergency evacuations.
DISCUSSION: The City of Alexandria was notified on June 3, 2015 by the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (DCHSEMA) which serves a regional grant coordinator role that t...
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