FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Paul Ingham, General Manager, Operations

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Dereje Tafesse, CET,  Roads Technical Co-ordinator

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2004-Nov-22

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Light Emitting Diode (LED) Traffic Signal Display Retrofit and Replacement Program

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the report titled ‘Light Emitting Diode (LED) Traffic Signal Displays Retrofit and Replacement Program’ dated November 22nd, 2004 be received;

 

AND THAT Council adopt in principle the (LED) Traffic Signal Displays Retrofit and Replacement Program, as outlined within this report and consider the cost implications in the 2005 Capital budget approval process as well as the Operations Department’s five (5) year Capital Budget forecast;

 

AND THAT the Director of Operations & Asset Management be authorized to initiate a Five (5) year program, starting in 2005, for the retrofit and/or replacement of the existing incandescent traffic control signal displays with light emitting diode (LED) traffic signal control displays at an estimated total cost of $475,000.00.

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to initiate a program to retrofit and replace the existing traffic control display system with Light Emitting Diode (LED) traffic signal displays.  The LED traffic signal display has been proven that it is much more energy efficient than incandescent lamps and requires less maintenance.  As the LED unit price has lowered, this technology has become more attractive because of the energy efficiency and display quality in comparison to incandescent lamps.  Since May 2003, LED displays have been used in the Town of Markham as the standard specification for all new installations of traffic signals and emergency signal maintenance.

 

A five year retrofit and replacement program will realize significant savings on annual maintenance and energy costs and provide improved signal quality associated with LED technology.

 

 

BACKGROUND:

Traditionally, incandescent lamps have been used for traffic control signal displays; however, the rising cost of maintenance and energy has led to the introduction of LED technology. Incandescent lamps require annual re-lamping, cleaning and emergency maintenance.  Based on the current pricing structure of the Town’s signal maintenance contract any emergency call received by the contractor beyond normal working hours (i.e. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday) for replacing a single incandescent bulb, results in a service call cost of approximately $600.00.  Regularly scheduled replacement costs for individual incandescent lamps are in the order of approximately $200.00 per intersection.  In addition to the maintenance cost, incandescent lamps consume 10 times more energy than LED lights.  Several municipal and regional jurisdictions are now converting signals from the incandescent lamps to LED displays.  In October 2004, the Region of York announced the completion of their three year retrofit and replacement program.

 

Currently, the Town of Markham has 55 signalized intersections. Of these 55 intersections, four (4) are relatively new and have been fully equipped with LED signal displays, in accordance with the Town’s standards for installation of new traffic signals.

 

What is an LED and how does it work?

A light emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that uses solid-state electronics to create light. The LED display consists of a number of small light emitting diodes connected in strings. The presence of these tiny bulbs allows the LED signal to continue to function effectively even when one or two bulbs fail. This leaves several other strings of LED to maintain the signal display in operation. LED signals can last up to ten years, requiring minimal maintenance. The LED traffic signals are brighter than the conventional traffic signals and consume only one tenth of the energy, leading to significant reduction in energy consumption.  The LED signals have become more popular as unit prices have decreased. In comparison with incandescent lamps, LED signals will provide a display that is easier to see in the daylight and at night.

 

OPTIONS/DISCUSSION:

Reduction in Energy Charges

The use of LED traffic signals will reduce the annual energy costs by up to 90%. Table 1 outlines the potential savings in annual total energy consumption comparing incandescent lights with LED traffic signals at a typical four-way intersection.  For demonstration purposes, we have selected the intersection of Birchmount Road and Denison Street to provide the following analysis on potential savings in this program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 1 -  Annual Comparison of Energy Charges

Item

Annual Energy Consumption

Total Annual Energy Cost

Primary Incandescent signals (4)

4,666 KWH per year

$413.00

Secondary Incandescent signals (4)

2,385 KWH per year

$211.00

Incandescent pedestrian heads (8)

6,221 KWH per year

$551.00

     Total Annual Energy Charges

 

$1,175.00

New LED pedestrian and traffic signal heads.

10% of incandescent lights

$117.50

Estimated Annual Operating savings (one intersection)

 

$1,057.50

 

Annual Maintenance Cost

In addition to the demonstrated reduction in energy charges, the use of LED signals will lead to a significant savings of annual maintenance cost as well.  The traffic signal maintenance cost for the Town of Markham ranges from approximately $80,000 to $115,000 annually.  Part of the annual maintenance contract includes annual re-lamping as well as emergency call outs to replace burned out bulbs, estimated at approximately $24,000.00 per year.  Other costs included in the signal maintenance contract are bi-annual controller maintenance and inspection, bi-annual conflict monitor testing, signal outage due to storms and other weather related incidents and emergency call out for collisions.  The implementation of LED will basically eliminate emergency call outs to replace burned out bulbs.  The LED traffic signal is made up of 180 light emitting diodes which allow the signal to function effectively even when one or more bulbs fail.  The LED traffic signals have a 10 year life expectancy which will also eliminate the annual re-lamping program for each signalized intersection.

 

Table 2 outlines the comparative maintenance costs between incandescent lamps and LED signals, over the life cycle of the LED’s.  Again, in order to provide a comprehensive cost comparison for individual intersections, we have selected the intersection of Birchmount Road and Denison Street to provide the following analysis.

 

Table 2 -  Annual Costs and 10 year projection (per intersection)

Item

Annual Cost per Intersection

10 year projection

(based on 2004 pricing)

Incandescent re-lamping program

             $200.00

$2,000.00

Emergency response

$250.00 *

$2,500.00

Annual Energy Charges

$1,175.00

$11,750.00

  Total incandescent cost

             $1,625.00 A

$16,250.00 A

 

 

 

LED re-lamping program

$865.00**

$8,650.00

Estimated total energy cost

$117.50

$1,175.00

   Total LED cost

$982.50 B

$9,825.00 B

Total savings per intersection to convert to LED displays (A minus B)

 

$642.50

 

$6,425.00

* Annual emergency call outs $13,000.00 for 55 intersections.  We have estimated a cost of approximately $250.00 per intersection per year.

**Relamping of LED shown on an annual basis for comparative purposes only.  Lifecycle of LED is 10 years.

 

Retrofit and Replacement Program

There are two types of signal heads installed in the Town of Markham intersections, yellow polycarbonate & yellow cast aluminium.  The retrofit program only applies to the signal head made up of yellow polycarbonate material housing. The existing yellow polycarbonate signal heads are relatively new and meet today’s standard, allowing the Town to retrofit the existing signal head with an LED kit.  The replacement program applies to signal heads made up of yellow cast aluminium. The yellow cast aluminium housing is very old and does not meet the current standards.  The estimated cost of the Town’s retrofit and replacement program is outlined in Appendix ‘A’ of this report.

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Capital Budget

The total cost of retrofit and replacement program is approximately $475,000.00.  In an effort to provide annual sustainable funding for the program, the Operations Department proposes that the program be implemented over a 5 year period.  We estimate that the Operations Department will require $95,000 annually over the next five (5) years to complete the retrofit and replacement program.  Allowing for relatively new intersections fully equipped with LED signal displays, it is anticipated that the 2005 Capital funding request of $45,000 will be sufficient.

 

Through the implementation of the replacement and retrofit program, the Operations Department estimates that the savings realized in reduced maintenance and energy costs would offset the Capital cost of implementing the five year program in less than eight (8) years (See Appendix B), based on current equipment, maintenance and energy charges.  In fact, upon completion of the retrofit and replacement program, the Town should realize savings in maintenance and energy charges of approximately $35,338 (642.50 X 55 intersections) annually, based on our current inventory.  Considering rising energy costs and forecasting relatively stable prices for LED technology over the duration of the replacement program and beyond, the Town would likely realize even greater savings in traffic signal operations in the years ahead.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

None.

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix ‘A’ – Estimated Cost of Retrofit and Replacement Program

Appendix ‘B’ – LED 10 Year Cost Summary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Loukes, P.Eng.

Director of Operations and Asset Management

 

Jim Sales

Commissioner of Community and Fire Services

 

APPENDIX  'A'

 

Estimated Cost of Retrofit and Replacement Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signal Heads - Cost To Replace Existing Cast Iron Heads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signal Head Configuration

Quantity

LED

Installation

 

 

Cost/head

 

Cost/head

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12*8*8

108

$369.15

$39,868.20

$500.00

$54,000.00

12*12*12

2

$476.00

$952.00

$500.00

$1,000.00

8*8*8

111

$369.15

$40,975.65

$500.00

$55,500.00

12*8*8*12 Fibre Optic

4

$566.65

$2,266.60

$500.00

$2,000.00

12*8*8*12

6

$544.35

$3,266.10

$500.00

$3,000.00

12X12 PED

104

$221.00

$22,984.00

$500.00

$52,000.00

 

 

 

$110,312.55

 

$167,500.00

 

 

 

Total:

$277,812.55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signal Heads - Cost To Retrofit Existing Plastic Heads with LED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signal Head Configuration

Quantity

LED

Installation

 

 

Cost/head

 

Cost/head

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12*8*8

140

$236.08

$33,051.20

$300.00

$42,000.00

12*12*12

 

 

$0.00

 

$0.00

8*8*8

17

$226.62

$3,852.54

$300.00

$5,100.00

12*8*8*12 Fibre Optic

4

$382.75

$1,531.00

$350.00

$1,400.00

12*8*8*12

6

$320.52

$1,923.12

$350.00

$2,100.00

12X12 PED

216

$161.87

$34,963.92

$300.00

$64,800.00

Flashing Bea. 12"

4

$303.28

$1,213.12

$375.00

$1,500.00

Flashing Bea. 8"

10

$161.87

$1,618.70

$250.00

$2,500.00

 

 

 

$78,153.60

 

$119,400.00

 

 

 

Total:

$197,553.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Estimated Cost of

 

 

 

 

 

Retrofit & Replacement Program

$475,366.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Estimated Cost / Intersection (475,366 ÷ 55)

$8,643.02

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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