Traffic Light Synchronization Program (TLSP)
The Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006, approved by the voters as Proposition 1B on November 7, 2006, included a $250 million program to fund traffic light synchronization projects and other technology-based improvements to improve safety, operations and the effective capacity of local streets and roads. This Traffic Light Synchronization Program (TLSP) is funded from funds deposited in the Highway Safety, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Account. The funds are available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Department of Transportation (Department), as allocated by the California Transportation Commission (Commission).
In 2007, the Legislature enacted implementing legislation (Senate Bill 88) that designated the Commission as the administrative agency responsible for programming TLSP funds and the agency authorized to adopt guidelines for the program.
SB 88 specified various administrative and reporting requirements for all Proposition 1B programs, and it directed that $150 million from the TLSP be allocated to the City of Los Angeles for upgrading and installing traffic signal synchronization within its jurisdiction.
The Department will develop a proposed program of projects for the TLSP on the basis of project applications prepared by regional agencies or recipient local agencies. The Commission will adopt the program upon finding that it is consistent with the program intent, which is to improve safety, operations and the effective capacity of local streets and roads.
The Department will form a committee to conduct a review and objective evaluation of project applications, with representatives of staff from the Federal Highway Administration, the Department, and the Commission. The criteria to be used in the evaluation include a benefit-cost indicator, safety index, emission benefits, project delivery, and local funding partnership.
BASELINE AGREEMENT
Attached below is the Baseline Agreement for the Proposition 1B Traffic Light Synchronization Program (TLSP). The Baseline Agreement consists of the Cover Sheet with instructions and the Programming Request Form (disregard macro warning message). A separate Baseline Agreement must be completed for each TLSP project the agency was awarded. The Baseline Agreement is completed by the local agency, the Director of Caltrans will also sign, completing the document. The Baseline Agreement must be signed within 3 months of program adoption AND before any allocation can be made. The program was adopted May 28, 2008. Please submit your document to Caltrans no later than August 22, 2008
The baseline agreement must be mailed to:
California Department of Transportation
Traffic Operations, TLSP Program
1120 N Street, Mail Station 36
Sacramento, CA 95814
REQUEST FOR FUNDING ALLOCATION
A Request for Funding Allocation must also be completed by the local agency. This can be found on the Caltrans Local Assistance webpage. The Request for Funding Allocations must be sent to the local agency’s Caltrans District Local Assistance Engineer (DLAE). You can find your DLAE at the weblink below:
DLAE Link
The Final Draft TLSP Guidelines provide eligibility, application, project selection and programming procedures.
The TLSP Evaluation Number (TLSPEN) will be used as a benefit-cost indicator based on delay and fuel consumption savings.
Click here for the Attachment A, Programming Request Form (disregard macro warning message)
Click here for Attachment B, the TLSPEN calculation worksheet. An instruction sheet accompanies the worksheet.
Click here for Attachment C, the Local Assistance Traffic Safety Index.
On Table 1 of the attachment under Type of Improvement,
please select #13 Upgrade Traffic Signals (includes interconnection).
All the applications along with the attachments must be mailed to:
California Department of Transportation
Traffic Operations, TLSP Program
1120 N Street, Mail Station 36
Sacramento, CA 95814
The deadline for receiving applications is 5:00 PM March 28, 2008.
List of TLSP Applications received by Caltrans
Contact David Van Dyken at (916) 654-4823 david_van_dyken@dot.ca.gov if you have any questions.
Attached below is the Department of Transportation's recommendation for funding from the Proposition 1B Traffic Light Synchronization Program (TLSP). The Department received 117 project applications from various agencies throughout the State requesting approximately $189 million to be funded. The file titled "TLSP Recommendations" lists all project nominations received with corresponding funding request. This file lists the project in order of ranking based on the criteria included in the adopted TLSP Guidelines. There is $98 million available for projects outside the City of Los Angeles. The Department is recommending that 62 projects be programmed in the TLSP for this $98,000,000.
The Department’s recommendation is to program TLSP funds only for capital components of the project. Therefore, in some cases, the recommended funding is less than that requested in the project application.
The file titled "TLSP Evaluation Criteria" provides an explanation of the scoring used to evaluate the project nomination, including tables that identify the point total for each scoring category. You should be able to validate your score based on the input from the project application (TLSPEN and SI worksheets) and funding levels.
We will be in contact with interested agencies to answer questions you may have on application scoring. The next step is for the California Transportation Commission to consider the Department's recommendation at their meeting in San Diego on May 28/29, 2008 at the locations shown below.
California Transportation Commission Meeting Location:
Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina
Coronado Ballroom
1380 Harbor Island Drive
San Diego, California