5.9.1 Advanced Technology
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Develop a Priority for Backup Generators – “Prioritize where backup generators are deployed. To keep emergency vehicles on the road, backup power is essential at fueling facilities. When an outside contractor performs generator maintenance, in-house staff should retain maintenance capability for emergency situations.”
Learning from the 2003 Blackout
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Maintain Older Communications Technology – “‘Old’ technologies, such as landline telephones and battery-operated radios, become very important when a crisis is widespread. Officials recommend maintaining some older technology, which may be less susceptible to power outages, in the traffic management center. As for backup power, even quadruple redundancy is not foolproof.”
Learning from the 2003 Blackout
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Maintain the Signal System – “The ability to maintain the signal system is key, unlike with freeways, which will operate reasonably well without power. A response plan for priority signals should be based on an evaluation of intersection safety, sight distance, and traffic volumes. Several agencies are now examining the costs of providing backup power supplies to ITS field equipment along key corridors and intersections. Emergency power for the computers controlling the centralized traffic signals—those run from a traffic management center—should be provided by multiple backup batteries.”
Learning from the 2003 Blackout
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Schedule Generator Maintenance – “Regular generator maintenance should be scheduled as standard operating procedure. The ability to maintain toll collection using backup power allows large volumes of traffic to be handled at toll booths with few customers aware of the blackout until they leave the tollway.”
Learning from the 2003 Blackout
February 7, 2006
Publication #FHWA–HOP-08-015
