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Key Facts for the State Radio Project
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| Based on project data through Mar. 31, 2012 |
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Review the Key Facts in Adobe PDF.
The Oregon Department of Transportation’s State Radio Project is replacing aging public safety communications systems statewide.
The radio project is significantly scaled back in scope and cost from its predecessor, the Oregon Wireless Interoperability Network. It has been re-engineered, assigned a new schedule and budget, and staffed to better fit Oregon’s fiscal constraints and public safety emergency services needs. The Legislature authorized the revised project in June 2011.
Focused on repairs and modernization, the project is upgrading the existing radio systems for ODOT and the Oregon State Police to create an integrated statewide network and to allow for shared efficiencies with the Oregon Departments of Corrections and Forestry.
The project is working to meet the federal narrowbanding deadline of Jan. 1, 2013. Because issues with the installation of mobile radios are affecting the schedule, however, radio project staff drafted a waiver application to the Federal Communications Commission for an extension of the deadline.
The project will build a trunked, two-way radio system in a “horseshoe” area that includes the Willamette Valley, north to the Columbia River Gorge, east to The Dalles and south to Bend. Trunking will improve channel access and efficiency in these high radio traffic areas.
The aging analog microwave system will be replaced and upgraded to digital. Project staff is visiting and assessing sites, and developing plans and specifications.
The radio project has limited budget for interoperability equipment and is working through the State Interoperability Executive Council and the State Radio User Group to foster interoperability between state and local systems.
ODOT will fulfill partnership obligations and commitments of the OWIN program and is working to meet deadlines for federal Public Safety Interoperability Communications grants.
Funding for the radio project does not involve any new money in the current biennium. The project is proceeding with funds reduced from those previously authorized. For the 2011-2013 biennium, the project estimate is $108.5 million. When added to OWIN funds spent and future anticipated funding, the budget totals $209.4 million from inception.
Current activities
The installation of mobile radios remains suspended since being halted in January due to Harris radio issues. In March Harris applied software fixes on the 340 previously deployed OSP and ODOT radios. When a permanent solution is finalized and tested, installations and deployments can resume.
The radio project is working with the Department of Corrections to share use of communications switches for the State Radio System. The proposed integration could also allow DOC to monitor and track prisoners in transit, improving security.
View to the north from Goodwin Peak, Lane County
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