Procurement check-in: City awards contract for software to manage traffic lights

Charlottesville will soon have new software that controls traffic signals throughout the city.

“The City of Charlottesville has a total area of 10.4 square miles and currently has 75 signalized intersections,” reads the background for a request for an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) sent out late last year. “Currently not all of the City’s intersections are connected and communicating, however, the City continues to expand the communications system with the goal of eventually being connected to all of the traffic control devices.”

On December 19, Charlottesville awarded a contract to Econolite Systems Inc. for ATMS software “to integrate the management of the City’s intelligent transportation system (ITS) devices through a single interface.”

Econolite is based in Anaheim, California according to their website.

Econolite’s Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) solutions ease traffic congestion, provide safer mobility and improves quality of life. As the one-stop-shop leader for traffic management systems, sensor products, and services, our broad offerings also include planning and design of turnkey, multi-modal transportation systems, software engineering, traffic network implementation, integration, operations, and maintenance.

This was the lead item in the September procurement report. A price for the contract is not listed in the city’s procurement portal.

• Five bids have been received for a project to relocate Charlottesville’s Human Resources to the fourth floor of the City Hall Annex. The bids ranged from $144,900 from Snow’s General Merchandise Inc. to $230,000 from NOLA Build and Design. A contract has not yet been awarded. (learn more)
• Charlottesville is seeking a firm to install a decorative quartz floor system at Washington Park Pool. Bids are due on January 17. (learn more)
• Bids are due Friday for a firm to install a shared-use path on Rugby Avenue. According to the procurement portal, this is for “installation of a paved cycling trail connecting Westwood Road with McIntire Park along Rugby Avenue, passing under the Highway 250 bypass bridge.” (learn more)
• Bids are also due Friday for a firm to modify and renovate the existing restroom and concession stand at Pen Park. Part of the reason for this is to bring the facility into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. (learn more)

Photo credit: Image taken from the Econolite website. Learn more about the company in their four-page brochure.

Before you go: This article was originally sent out as part of the Charlottesville Community Engagement newsletter in the January 8, 2025 edition. Both are functions of Town Crier Productions. You can support the work by purchasing a paid subscription or contributing monthly through Patreon. You can also send in a check or send an email, but drop me a line first.