Review the April Key Facts in Adobe PDF. Based on project data through March 31, 2013
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.
In its first year, the project worked to meet the federal narrowbanding deadline of Jan. 1, 2013. Issues with installations of mobile radios led ODOT to request a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission to extend the deadline; approval was granted in August. The radio project’s new narrowbanding deadline is Nov. 1, 2013.
The project is scoped to 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
· Staff is contracting for the purchase and installation of equipment at more than 30 infill sites. These sites will keep radio coverage as good as it was, or better, once the narrowbanding of the state's existing radios takes place. For efficiency, the sites are being bundled by geographic location and logical work sequence.
· This month all but four portable and mobile radio deployments were completed for OSP, and only one deployment remains for the Oregon Department of Corrections. Those remaining will be completed in April, along with those for the State Fire Marshal office.
View to the north from Goodwin Peak, Lane County
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