WAI-WIZE has been awarded a contract to design a new two way radio system for Dallas Area Rapid Transit system (DART). The new design system will provide voice, mobile data, AVL and video transport for DART’s revenue and non-revenue vehicles. This newly designed system will incorporate state-of-the-art two way radio technology utilizing digital techniques and packet communications protocol that will service DART’s bus, light rail, paratransit, police, maintenance, fare collection and other operations. This newly designed system will service some 2000 mobile users covering DART’s 12 member cities for the next 10 to 15 years.

Currently DART’s transportation network includes a fleet of more than 700 buses servicing about 130 routes over a 700 square-mile service area, a Light Rail system of approximately 45 miles, 31 freeway miles of HOV lanes, about 203 Paratransit vehicles for mobility-impaired customers, and 35 miles of diesel commuter Trinity Rail Express (TRE) jointly operated with the Fort Worth “T”™ . In addition to this current infrastructure, DART is in the process of adding an additional 45 miles of light rail development.

DART currently supports its radio communications needs with a combination of DART owned and leased radio systems. These systems operate in both the 800 and 900 MHz frequency bands. These systems were originally installed in 1994 and 1992 respectively. The new radio system is being designed to reuse DART’s twelve (12) 900 MHz frequency pairs, as well as DART’s five (5) 800MHz frequency pairs. This mew system will utilize digital techniques and packet communications protocol based on Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). It shall transfer data at least four times faster than the legacy radio system especially under heavy load conditions. Concurrent voice and data transmissions over a single channel shall be possible as the system protocol should allow half of thee channel capacity to be given to supporting a single voice call while the remainder continues to carry data transmissions from other users. Two simultaneous voice transmissions shall not be permitted to ensure the availability of channel bandwidth for data transmission. In locations with multiple base stations on different channels, the radio may be configured to roam between coverage areas in much the same way as a cellular phone. This will allow for increased coverage area without user intervention. It also allows for automatic system recovery in the event of a base station failure. The new system will consolidate dispatch communications and control for Bus, Rain, Paratransit, Police and HOV.

Our specific design SOW included the following tasks:

• Assist in the initial planning and selection of approach for DART radio system improvements. Perform new RF/technical analysis where necessary to make this selection.
• Host a preliminary Design Review (PDR) to present the initial design (~30% level) as well as preliminary radio system construction estimates. The preliminary design concept may require changes based on budgetary constraints revealed by initial construction estimates.
• Develop 65% Plans, Specifications and Estimates for the new system design. Incorporate all comments and/or changes agreed to at PDR.
• Submit 65% PS&E for review and comment by DSC.
• Host a Critical Design Review (CDR) to present the 95% PS&E design, showing how all comments and decisions have been incorporated into a final design, ready to be turned into a complete Bid package.
• Assuming no significant design comments and/or changes, the CDR would be closely followed by a Final (100%) PS&E submittal signed and sealed by a PE licensed in the state of Texas.
• Assist the agency with the preparation, review and acceptance of Construction Bids.
• Participant in comment period and presentations
• Assist DART in system implementation

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