SR-6-J (77)
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TD:JFH:RLA: jwjteletsr.ayer. trans santa Monica, California
Council Meeting: November 26, 1991
TO: Mayor and city council
FROM: city staff
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION FOR THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE A
VEHICLE LOCATING SYSTEM FROM INTERNATIONAL TELETRAC,
INC.
Introduction
This report requests that the City council authorize the city
Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with International
Teletrac, Inc. for a vehicle locating system for the Santa Monica
Municipal Bus Lines.
Backqround
Automatic vehicle locating systems permit the identification and
display of locations of vehicles on an office computer
workstation. In the past, such systems were custom deslgned for
very large systems. Recently, electronics, and supporting
software, have been developed which can readily be installed
without customization.
The Municipal Bus Lines has been experimenting w1th Teletrac
vehicle locating devices on ten buses. staff has found the
system to be useful in adjusting schedules on both a temporary
and permanent basis. In addition, the ability to immediately
locate any bus will enhance the Bus Line's safety program.
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Before recommending Teletrac, staff investigated other vehicle
locating systems. Unlike Teletrac, these systems calculate and
transmit data using a dedicated radio frequency. New radio
channels in the Los Angeles area are practically unobtainable.
Teletrac, instead, uses its own radio frequency, then sorts the
information by vehicle at a central computer. The City purchase
includes individual transponders for each bus, bus antennas and
microcomputer terminals. Teletrac charges an annual fee to
subscribers (based on usage) to maintain its radio towers,
transmitters and central computer.
Budgetary/Financial Impact
Purchase of the system includes installation of vehicle location
transponders and antennas on each bus and service vehicle (147
vehicles total), as well as installation of three computer work
stations. Yearly costs would be approximately $30,000 for
ongoing subscriber charges and complete maintenance of the
system, including the replacement and repair of transponders,
when necessary.
The total cost of the purchase and 1nstallation of 147
transponders, three computer work stat10ns and one year of
subscription service 1S $131,779. Funding, in the amount of
$140,000 for the purchase of the vehicle locator system, 1S
available in Account No. 41-750-657-20092-8900-99291.
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Recommendation
city staff recommends that the city Council authorize the City
Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement in the amount of
$131,779 with International Teletrac, Inc. to supply and install
a vehicle locating system for the Santa Monica Municipal Bus
Lines.
Prepared by: J. F. Hutchison, Director of Transportation
Bob Ayer, Assistant Director of Transportation
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