BackgroundThe first efforts to establish a regional ITS communications network among MAG agencies started in 1998. The links required for effective ITS communications between ten (10) local agencies were identified and temporally funded with federal funds from the AZTech™ Model Deployment Initiative (MDI). All these links were leased telecommunication lines, all of which were allowed to expire and were not renewed by any of the local agencies – primarily due to the high annual cost of the leases. In 2001, the Maricopa Association of Governments Telecommunications Advisory Group
(MAGTAG) and MAG Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) committees began the Regional Community Network (RCN) study which ultimately identified the Concept of Operations for the RCN that would be used by the various public sector agencies to: - Increase the bandwidth capacity of public sector telecommunications links;
- Increase the reliability of public sector telecommunications links;
- Increase information sharing capabilities across jurisdictional boundaries; and
- Enhance the level of service that public sector agencies provide to the communities they serve.
In2002, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), and the City of Phoenix (COP) conducted a proof of concept test to demonstrate possibilities of combining various public agencies resources to solve their network capacity and path diversity problems. This Joint User Interoperability Communication Enterprise (JUICE) Proof of Concept test demonstrated that the recommendation in the MAG RCN Study to build a regional network was a viable solution for addressing some of the telecommunication needs of MAG member agencies. In 2003, Maricopa County developed an AZTech™ Telecommunications Overview report documenting the immediate need for the region to start establishing center-to-center fiber optic communications links between the various traffic operations centers and between public safety agencies to sustain and enhance the region’s ability to mitigate the impacts of traffic congestion and regional emergencies. In 2004, AZTech™ partners adopted the RCN concept recommended by MAGTAG and MAG ITS committees. The Arizona DOT secured a USDOT grant for improving Public Safety and Transportation Interoperability. A portion of this grant was used by Arizona DOT to develop a Design Concept Report (DCR) for the Phase 1A (an initial deployment phase) of the RCN. However, funds for implementing Phase 1A was not available at this time. In 2005, on behalf of the AZTech™ partnership, Arizona DOT developed a DCR for Phase II (East Valley RCN Deployment) of the RCN. In the same year, $1.6 million in federal funds previously programmed for a MAG project to implement the original MAG RCN concept was made available for implementation of the RCN to support regional ITS communications. MAG and ADOT have agreed to utilize these funds to implement RCN Phase 1A as a MAG regional ITS project, implemented by ADOT.
Due to the complexity of the RCN project, MAG required a Systems Engineering Analysis to guide the entire RCN development. The RCN Systems Engineering Analysis was funded by ADOT and completed by Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. based on the guidelines developed by FHWA and MAG. RCN Phase 1A ProjectThe RCN Phase 1A Goals and Objectives:- Improve traffic control and management
- Improve travel information service
- Improve incident management
- Improve data archived function
- Improve inter-agency data sharing
- Provide Video Conferencing
- Center-to-Center Communications
The RCN Phase 1A involved Centers:- ADOT TMC
- Chandler TMC
- Gilbert TMC
- Glendale DPS
- Glendale TMC
- Peoria TMC
- Phoenix Calvin Goode
- Phoenix Public Transit
| - Phoenix TMC
- PSHIA RCC Facility
- MAG
- MCDOT
- Mesa TMC
- ADOT Vision Field Office
- Surprise TMC
- Valley Metro
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The RCN Phase 1A project actually involves two separate but related projects. The first project is limited to the development of Plans, Specifications & Estimates and will install a small amount of fiber and all the necessary conduit to complete the physical connection of the RCN network. The project was open to bids on July 11, 2008 and will be completed within 120 working days. Paramount Designs, Inc. was awarded the project on August 15, 2008. The second project involves the installation of active electronics at project sites. The RCN Working Group formed by the MAGTAG and MAGITS Committee invited four network devices manufacturer to present their solutions to address RCN needs and requirements. The Working Group and vendor selection team chose the equipments of Foundry Networks to be used in the RCN. Foundry is in the process of finalizing their proposal. Based on the proposal, the scope of work for hiring a turn-key solution provider under the statewide contract will be developed. The consultant, Kimley-Horn and Associates, will be developing rules and responsibilities of network management and operations for the RCN Working Group. It is anticipated that one primary agency and one backup agency will serve at the primary point of contact for daily operations, maintenance and network management issues, following the one-year vendor warranty period. The following agencies have expressed interest in serving in this role: City of Phoenix, ADOT and MAG. The Phase 1A project is expected to be fully implemented early 2009. RCN Phase 1A project meeting: Tuesday, September 16, 2008, ADOT Vision Field Office, from 7:00am to 8:00am. These are weekly meetings and will continue through the completion of the project.  Figure 1: Proposed Fiber communication links to be established by the RCN Phase 1A project September 4, 2008 | 
