Detailed costs of road weather information systems deployed at several sites north of Spokane, WA.
Made Public Date
07/06/2004
Identifier
2004-SC00079
TwitterLinkedInFacebook

Summary Information

As part of the FY 1999 ITS Integration program, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funded the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to install a system in the rural and mountainous region of Spokane that would collect and communicate weather and road conditions, border crossing, and other information to commercial drivers, the motoring public, and WSDOT maintenance crews. Prior to project deployment, WSDOT had installed a single Road Weather Information System ā€“ Environmental Sensing Station (RWIS-ESS) (weather station) without a camera at Loon Lake; there were no Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) systems. Limited traveler information regarding road conditions, accidents, construction activities and flooding was available outside the immediate Spokane area. The project coverage area includes the U.S. 395 corridor an important travel route for commerce and recreation. The premise of the project was that with better information on road conditions commercial and public drivers could make better informed decisions regarding their trips. In addition, WSDOT maintenance crews could more efficiently manage and maintain the roads.

The system components installed along the U.S. 395 corridor north of Spokane included two RWIS-ESS with camera (at Sherman Pass and Laurier), two mobile HAR systems (at the towns of Kettle Falls and Republic), and one camera integrated with the existing RWIS-ESS at Loon Lake. See figure below for location of each installation. A brief description of each component is presented below followed by a breakdown of component capital cost (see table below). Installation costs are included in the cost of the equipment. Operations and maintenance costs associated with these components are difficult to separate out in the budget and were not available at the time the evaluation was conducted.

RWIS-ESS with Camera. Two new RWIS-ESS systems were installed at Sherman Pass and Laurier. A camera was integrated with the existing RWIS-ESS at Loon Lake. The RWIS-ESS, shipped as a kit from the vendor, included: plans, sensors (road surface, air, wind, precipitation, and pressure), wiring, receivers, antenna, cable, remote processing unit, tower, and camera. Sherman Pass on State Route (SR) 20 presents treacherous driving conditions during winter. A RWIS-ESS with camera was installed at this location to provide real-time information on road and weather conditions. WSDOT used cellular phone technology and a propane powered generator to provide communication with this remote facility. The cost of the Sherman Pass RWIS-ESS was approximately $170,000. The Laurier RWIS-ESS facility is located across the Canadian border on U.S. 395. The RWIS-ESS and cameras are used to collect environmental data including wind speed, temperature, precipitation, pavement conditions, and humidity. The cost of the Laurier RWIS-ESS was approximately $83,400. The RWIS-ESS implemented under this program are linked to the WSDOT state-wide road weather system operated by the University of Washington. This system is the means by which WSDOT provides weather conditions for local areas over the Internet (available at http://wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/) and HARs. The data that is collected by the RWIS-ESS sensors include: pavement temperature, surface condition, solution freeze point, sub-grade temperature, wind speed and direction, precipitation type and intensity, visibility, air, temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure.

Mobile HAR. Two mobile HAR systems were installed near Republic and at Kettle Falls. The HAR at Republic had to be relocated to the junction of SRs 20 and 21 due to poor communication signal quality at the original location. WSDOT staff update messages for the HAR via cellular phone as changing road conditions and weather dictate. The operation of the HAR at Kettle Falls is similar to that at Republic. Broadcasts warn motorists of road construction, incidents, dangerous driving conditions and restrictions, and border crossing conditions and closures. The cost of the Republic and Kettle Falls HARs was approximately $111,073. This cost includes $52,000 for two mobile HARs and $59,073 for signs, connectivity, clearing and other associated costs. The two mobile HARs were provided to the contractor and are accounted for in a Below the Line line-item (see below), but have been included in this discussion for completeness.

WSDOT Provided Equipment. The two mobile HARs and camera upgrade kits were purchased separately (not part of the construction project), but were installed as part of the project. The total cost of WSDOT supplied equipment was approximately $72,500. Each portable HAR cost $26,000.

Miscellaneous Items. These post-installation costs are associated with replacement or repair of faulty or damaged equipment and other expenses not initially anticipated (e.g., new power feeds and wiring, new HAR signs, extra fuel tank, rebuild paging units). The total cost of miscellaneous items was $60,000.

The total cost of the project was $446,807.
 

Item Unit Price Quantity Cost
Sherman Pass (RWIS-ESS)
Weather Station w/Cellular Setup
$45,384
LS
$45,384
500 Gal. Propane Tank (Including installation kit and initial fill)
$1,715
1
$1,715
Thermoelectric Generator System
$14,003
LS
$14,003
Fiberglass Enclosure
$9,070
1
$9,070
Motorola Bag Phone
$250
1
$250
Phone Line at WTEP Server
$50
1
$50
Junction Boxes - Type 1
$170
7
$1,190
Conduit - 1 1/2" RGS (100 LF sections; installed)
$2,515
10
$25,150
Clearing and Grubbing
$2,500
LS
$2,500
Traffic Control
$2,500
LS
$2,500
Other (construction engineering, overhead, profit, taxes, contingencies)
$68,194
LS
$68,194
Project Total
 
$170,006
Laurier (RWIS-ESS)
Weather Station
$44,383
LS
$44,383
Clearing and Grubbing
$2,000
LS
$2,000
Service Cabinet, Pole, and Wiring
$1,150
1
$1,150
Conduit - 1 1/2" RGS (100 LF sections; installed)
$2,365
1
$2,365
Phone Drop at Laurier
$50
LS
$50
Other (construction engineering, overhead, profit, taxes, contingencies)
$33,455
-
$33,455
Project Total -
-
$83,403
Kettle and Republic (Mobile HAR)
Mobile Highway Advisory Radio*(Provided to contractor, tax incl. See Below the Line)
$--
2
$--
FCC Licensing
$500
LS
$500
Computer
$2,000
2
$4,000
Clearing and Grubbing
$1,000
LS
$1,000
CSBC (1 1/4" minus) Pad for HAR Trailer (Method A Compaction)
$16
6
$96
Permanent HAR Signs w/ Solar Power Supply and Pagers
$8,922
3
$26,766
Conduit - 1 1/2" RGS (100 LF sections; installed)
$2,515
1
$2,515
120V Weatherproof Power Receptacle w/ 4' Timber Pole
$500
LS
$500
Other (construction engineering, overhead, profit, taxes, contingencies)
$23,696
-
$23,696
Project Total -
-
$59,073
Loon Lake (Camera)
ESP COHU Color Camera Video Kit Upgrade
$858
LS
$858
Other (construction engineering, overhead, profit, taxes, contingencies)
$999
-
$999
Project Total -
-
$1,857
Below the Line (Not a construction line item)
Mobile Highway Advisory Radio*
$26,000
2
$52,000
Power Receptacle
$100
1
$100
COHU Camera Upgrade Kit
$5,000
3
$15,000
Taxes
$5,368
$5,368
Below the Line Total -
-
$72,468
Miscellaneous Items (Post-installation)
Misc. Total
-
-
$60,000
GRAND TOTAL
-
-
$446,807


Notes: LS = Lump sum; CSBC = Crush Surfacing Base Course; RGS = Rigid Galvanized Steel (conduit)

Notes:
Click here for picture of HAR sign with beacons.
Click here for picture of a mobile HAR with solar panel.
Click here for diagram showing location of each installation.