Specifications

19
Case Study
Case Study
City Officials in Dallas, Texas Save Lives
by Reducing Intersection Blackouts
The City of Dallas is taking action to improve the safety of its
motorists by committing to install Alpha Uninterruptible
Power Systems at all 1300 of its intersections. As many
states and cities around the United States have discovered,
it takes very little to cause a power outage that directly
impacts the safety and efficiency of a traffic intersection.
On July 2011, The Dallas Morning News reported that in East
Dallas, it only took one tree limb blown into power lines to
knock out power for several blocks. The relatively small
scope of this power failure belies its significance given that 2
lives were tragically lost in a motor vehicle accident, thought
to have been caused by the inoperative traffic light at the
scene of the fatality.
When considering the use of UPS at intersections, most
signal groups simply consider the consequences of larger
power outages as a deciding factor. What is often not taken
into account is that the smaller outages can easily result in
similar costly outcomes. An example of this is that drivers are
generally more aware of a power outage when a whole
region is affected, and drive more cautiously. The same
drivers are less aware and prudent when the outage is
limited to a small area.
An Alpha UPS traffic solution features a fully-configured
system comprising of an AC UPS module, transfer switch
and batteries; housed in a compact (yet easily serviceable)
weather-hardened steel cabinet. Amongst its many benefits
is keeping traffic intersections powered and traffic flowing
safely for 8 hours or more (easily exceeding standard run
time requirements for most state or municipal traffic
authorities) in the event of a power outage or disruption.
Dallas City officials understand the benefits that a UPS
battery backup system provides, and are proactively
investing in the protection of their citizens. The City of Dallas
plans to have all of the Traffic UPS systems installed within
three years or less, starting in the 3rd quarter of 2012.
The City of Dallas is taking
action to improve the safety
of its motorists by committing to
install Alpha Uninterruptible
Power Systems at all 1300
of its intersections