Rogue Valley Transportation - New 700Mhz System

[PMJ2kx]

Seems that Jackson County will soon get a taste of 700Mhz within the next year or two. Rogue Valley Transportation will be implementing a new P25 Phase I, two-site system that will provide improved voice and data communications throughout the valley. This was made possible through funds via a ConnectOregon IV grant.

The FCC application:
ULS Application - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz - 0005588755 - ROGUE VALLEY TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT

The ConnectOregon IV grant paperwork:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/PT/docs/P...dio-3T0189.pdf

The grant paperwork also contains area coverage maps, as well as information about equipment deployment.

[rosecitytransit]

For those not wanting to wade through all of the forms, the interesting stuff in the grant document starts on page 22.

Overall, their new system sounds a little overkill seeing that they currently have a single regular channel.

But the document mentions future interoperability; sounds like Jackson County is planning to go digital, too.

Just hope they got their waiver.

[dkf435]

I just love how they misuse grant money to ge these radio systems up and running

[PMJ2kx]

Originally Posted by dkf435

I just love how they misuse grant money to ge these radio systems up and running

But this is what the state program was designed for. There's no misuse here.

Originally Posted by State Of Oregon Webpage

In 2005, the Oregon Legislature created the Multimodal Transportation Fund to invest in air, marine, rail, and public transit infrastructure improvements. The Fund is part of what is known as the ConnectOregon program; providing grants and loans to non-highway transportation projects that promote economic development in Oregon. The legislature authorized issuance of $100 million in lottery-backed revenue bonds to fund the program in each of the 2005-07, 2007-09, and 2009-11 biennia. An additional $40 million was authorized in 2011 for the 2011-13 biennium.

Transportation Development - Planning ConnectOregon

[dkf435]

And I bet it becomes part of the multi county 700 super system

[PMJ2kx]

This is a two-site, stand-alone system for regional transportation only - no other agencies will be operating on it. The forward-thinking regarding its use is that public safety agencies will only utilize the system in order to coordinate mass transportation and shelter, should the circumstances arise.

As far as I'm aware, Jackson county is not included in the 7-County Regional Interoperable Radio System.

[oregontreehugger]

These dollars must be burning a hole in somebody's pocket. I cannot fathom why RVTD would need something of this caliber. Even so, why not go in on a countywide system instead of doing their own piecemeal approach?

[DickH]

Originally Posted by PMJ2kx

... The forward-thinking regarding its use is that public safety agencies will only utilize the system in order to coordinate mass transportation and shelter, should the circumstances arise. ...

And should the circumstances arise, no one will know how to do it because there will have been no training and no practice using it. Then they will start screaming how the system doesn't work, etc,, etc.

[oregontreehugger]

No kidding. And with the loss of the Feds timber funds over the last few years, the counties in So. OR are hurting bad, with some teetering on the verge of bankruptcy. Jackson Co. is in a little better position than most, but still, this just screams of a solution looking for a problem. But hey, it's only grant money, right? LOL