ITS Project Manager for CCTV and Fiber Optic Upgrade for MTA Bridges and Tunnels
In 1998, when I joined MTA Bridges and Tunnels (a.k.a., Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority), their two tunnels had unused fiber optic cables spanning the length of the tunnels with no breaks in-between for attaching devices, and there was a single pilot project at the Throgs Neck Bridge to attach the facility cameras, variable message signs and emergency telephone system to new fiber optic communications. During my five years at the agency I worked vigorously to pursue any and all means to deploy and make use of long-range fiber at and between all of the facilities that the agency operated. I worked with MTA Real Estate to attempt to broker deals for deployment of fiber across the Verrazano-Narrows and Henry Hudson Bridges. I worked with project managers at the Triborough, Verrazano-Narrows and Bronx-Whitestone Bridges to have fiber conduits and boxes added to their deck replacement and electrical upgrade projects. I took NYSDOT consultants out to the borders of every facility to establish locations for future connections to NYSDOT highway fiber optic deployments. I met with colleagues at NYC Transit and Metro North to discuss possible connections for the Cross-Bay, Marine Parkway and Henry Hudson Bridges.
Most importantly, in 1998 I proposed an all-facility CCTV and Fiber Optic Upgrade project for the 2000-2004 ITS Capital Program that was scoped, estimated and approved in 1999. I wrote the RFP in 2000 and negotiated and awarded a $1.3M design contract to TransCore in 2001. The design was completed in 2003.
The project included major deployments at the Cross-Bay, Marine Parkway and Henry Hudson Bridges, modifications and additions at the Brooklyn-Battery and Queens Midtown Tunnels, and extensions at the Throgs Neck, Bronx-Whitestone and Verrazano-Narrows Bridges. Locations for cameras at the three bridges that comprise the Triborough Bridge were specified as well. The design project had several components, including:
- Use of GIS data to specify all traffic camera locations, and existing and planned variable message sign (VMS) locations.
- The creation of agency-wide resolution standards, including ensuring that cameras could be used to verify VMS messages and maintenance.
- Exporting of the GIS data into 3D CADD models which were used for 3D visualizations of every camera view
- Deployment of Ethernet MAN infrastructure for use by other ITS devices, and extensions of single-mode fiber to the agency's property boundaries for future connection to city-wide networks.
- The creation of CSI specifications, a Bentley MicroStation drawing package, and cost estimates, ready for construction contractor bid.
Prior to the project, each facility had two pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras, controlled at a single location in each nearby service building. It was discovered that it was economical to deploy more PTZ cameras, which could give wide-angle views and then zoom in on incidents and VMS to meet the resolution standards for full coverage. These PTZ cameras would interface to the new ATM IDEAS emergency/incident management system, allowing for distributed control throughout the facility and at "sister bridges" and Randall's Island as well.
I was interviewed about ATM IDEAS and the CCTV project by Jerry Werner of ICDN. Excerpts from that interview are available here.
My title at MTA Bridges and Tunnels changed from ATMS Project Manager to ITS Project Manager when my entire division was moved from the Engineering and Construction Department to the Technology Department. I was employed at TBTA from 1998 to 2003. While at TBTA, I also managed:
- The afore-mentioned ATM IDEAS capital project during its scoping, estimating, proposal, negotiation and design phases. I wrote the RFP in 2000, awarded the contract in 2001, and completed the design in 2003.
- Two pilot TRANSCOM TRANSMIT capitalized asset projects to deploy E-ZPass probe surveillance travel time detection at the Triborough and Verrazano-Narrows Bridges. The projects, started in 1997 and 1998, passed through the hands of several project managers over the course of many years. I managed the projects from 1998 to 2000.
I also was my division's representative on:
- An all-facility security enhancement project involving fiber, cameras and digital video recorders (DVRs), motion detectors, card access and intercom systems.
- A variable message sign (VMS) project inside the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, using PROFIBUS programmable logic controllers (PLCs) in a ring topology with redundant masters and an Ethernet-based human-machine interface (HMI).
- Electrical upgrade projects at the Throgs Neck, Verrazano-Narrows and Bronx-Whitestone Bridges involving the deployment of fiber optic cables and an Ethernet MAN for communications with new power, SCADA and ITS systems.
- Final systems acceptance testing of the E-ZPass Toll Management System.
Inside the agency, I served on the diversity committee, and chaired a committee to create new CSI contract sections on fiber optic cables and fiber optic cable systems. I drafted the memorandum of understanding between the ISO 9001 Engineering and Construction Department and the new Technology Department, and, after September 11, supervised the creation of new security procedures for the transmittal and use of sensitive documentation by outside contractors.
I represented my agency at several formal and informal committees and meetings, including the AASHTO ATS subcommittee, TRANSCOM technical committees, and meetings with NYSDOT, NYCDOT, DoITT, NYC Transit and Metro North. I gave a presentation to the New York City Municipal Engineers Society on the 2000-2004 ITS Capital Program, and regularly attended ITS-NY, ITS America, ITS World and TRB meetings, and continue to serve on the ITE Traffic Incident Management (TIM) committee.
Important: Barry is currently working full-time and is only available for small after-hours consulting contracts.
This page © 2004-2007 Barry DroginLast Updated: July 6, 2007