Wyrick Proposal:
Parking Count System for
Bear Park South
Respectfully resubmitted by:
Sean Hogue
Austin Kramer
Zachary Smith
5 February 2010
- I. Identification of Sponsors
- a. Project Sponsors
- Sean Hogue
1001 East Madison Street – Shannon Room #701B
Springfield, MO 65807
(660) 227-9331
Hogue1989@live.missouristate.edu
2. Austin Kramer
1043 East Cherry Street
Springfield, MO 65807
(573) 576-3233
Kramer000@live.missouristate.edu
- b. Project Advisor
1. Ken McClure
Vice President of Administrative & Information Services
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-5233
KMcClure@missouristate.edu
- c. Project Coordinator
- Sean Hogue
II. Description of Proposed Project
- a. General Description of Proposal
At the start of the 2006 spring semester, Missouri State University dedicated its second parking structure on the Springfield campus: Bear Park South. Bear Park South was designated as a commuter-only parking garage to accommodate the thousands of students who drive to campus each day. The four-level garage is a popular place to park as it is close to a number of big academic buildings that host a variety of academic departments and majors. Currently, there is no way for students to know how many spots are left in the garage without entering and searching for any available spots. This proposal seeks to add a parking count system to Bear Park South that would solve the current problem.
- b. Proposal Details
The system that we are proposing to be installed is a RedStorm Space Display System provided by Fisher Parking & Security, Inc. The details of their two proposals can be found in the Appendix (Attachment 1 & 2). The following equipment is included in the company’s proposal:
– two (2) single (1) level count display signs
– two (2) wireless converters
– two (2) RedStorm Controllers
– eight (8) Detector Loops
– sixteen (16) Lane Delineators
They have given us two options on the single (1) level count display signs. We have the option of adding a variable-message sign (VMS) insert on both of the level count display signs. It would give Safety & Transportation and/or Facilities Management the ability to project any type of messages they would need to let drivers know. For example, they could project after a heavy snowstorm that Level 4 of the garage is closed due to snow and ice. We would recommend going with the VMS inserts (Attachment 1) however, if the added price of the inserts are too much for the entire project to be considered for a vote, our second choice would be having signs without the VMS inserts (Attachment 2). The company that manufactures the signs can punch out the space where the VMS inserts could be placed in the future and then, they could have a plate installed in the empty space for the time being until funds are identified to purchase the inserts.
The signs on either option would be able to be customized. We wanted the signs to have the Missouri State University “Carrington logo” on it and read “Bear Park South.” An example of our preferred design is included with the VMS insert (Photo 1).
Once the equipment is ordered, Fisher Parking’s proposal states the company would provide the following services:
– Install two (2) single (1) level count display signs
– Install two (2) count controllers
– Install eight (8) Detector Loops
– Install sixteen (16) Lane Delineators
– Pull necessary data cables
– Configure the system and conduct training
- c. Proposed location for the object of the proposal
The parking count system would be installed in Bear Park South Parking Garage.
Photo 1 – Preferred Customized Single Level Count Display Sign w/ VMS insert
- d. Alternative Uses
As mentioned earlier, if the commission recommends the single (1) level count display signs that include the VMS inserts, any type of message could be projected on the sign to give drivers information about the garage and its status, whether a level was closed, or that the garage is being used for event parking, etc.
- e. Drawbacks
The cost of this system is too high to have the same system installed at the same time into Bear Park North. The amount that is in the Wyrick Project Fund would not allow for this. We view this as a future opportunity for another Wyrick proposal.
There are a few minor drawback of the system itself. One, it does not factor in university vehicles and their designated spots as well as it would count the metered and designated handicap spots. Another minor drawback we foresee is that the system would also count the “compact car” spaces, so if a larger vehicle saw that there were a few spots left and then found they were only for compact cars, it would cause frustration.
- f. Necessary modifications to existing structures
Before Fisher Parking can install the system, the university would have to have the following items done:
– Install power for each controller
– Add conduit to interconnect to each controller location
The details of this work are provided in a drawing found in the Appendix (Attachment 3). Using Brad Kielhofner’s original high-end estimates from Missouri State University Design and Construction (Attachment 4) for running power to seven (7) controller locations and conduit to each controller location, our revised pre-work cost for the two signs without the VMS insert would be $14,500 (Attachment 5).
If the commission chooses the signs with the VMS inserts that we are recommending, there would be a couple more additional costs. Missouri State Telecommunications would have to do several standard runs for networking the two signs together and the fund would pay for the purchase of a computer (Attachment 7) to control the software that would remain in one of the garage’s secure storage areas (The proposed computer matches the software specifications that the VMS inserts require; this can be found in Attachment 6). The subtotal of these additional requirements with a 20% mark-up equals $940.80, bringing the total of the pre-work for the signs including the VMS inserts to $15,440.80.
- III. Estimated Cost of the Project
The estimated cost is $74,704.80 for the count system with the VMS inserts and for Fisher Parking & Security, Inc. to install the system ($60,829 without the VMS inserts). It costs an additional $1,600 to have the two (2) single (1) level count display signs customized (documented in Attachment 8), which brings the grand total of our Wyrick Proposal to $76,304.80 ($62,429 without the VMS inserts).
- a. Provisions of Alternatives in Order of Preference
If for some reason the funds were not there to support the system with the VMS inserts, we recommend that the system without the inserts be purchased.
- b. Provisions of Complete Cost Breakdowns
Again, as stated above, the system will cost $76,304.80 with the VMS inserts or $62,429 without the inserts. Breakdowns of these costs can be found in Attachment 9.
- c. Provisions of any Ongoing Costs
The AIS Division, which includes the Facilities Management Department, has agreed to cover all ongoing maintenance and repairs indicated by the administrative support letters on pages 21 and 22. The system has a manufacturer’s warranty of five years and the installation by Fisher Parking & Security, Inc. has a ninety-day warranty.
The main concern for maintenance will be if any cars run or back into any of the lane delineators, causing them to break. However, the AIS Division has agreed to pay to system’s upkeep.
- IV. Estimated Completion Time of Project
We see no reason, upon approval of our proposal and passage during the Spring 2010 student body elections, that this project couldn’t be completed with the direct oversight of the Vice President of AIS in under a year. Once the pre-work is done after being done in-house or being bid out (providing all the power, concrete and conduit work), Missouri State Telecommunication runs the networking cable and the equipment arrives, installation by Fisher Parking would take approximately one week to complete.
- V. Estimated Life of Project
This project is built to last for ten years without any preventative maintenance.
- VI. Direct Benefits to Students and the University Community
This system will make parking in Bear Park South much easier as students, faculty, staff, and visitors are coming and going from campus. When the garage is nearing capacity, it will save these constituents time because by seeing the garage is either full or close to being full, they can drive elsewhere to find more parking. Fisher Parking cites that this system will provide the following benefits: automated count display, lower emissions, it’s environmentally friendly, and an increase in community satisfaction. The university could also display custom messages on the signs to let drivers that there are hazards in the garage, if it is being used for event parking, or if part or the entire garage is closed; this would be much more effective than the sandwich boards the university currently uses for situations such as those mentioned. In addition, it will make it easier for Safety and Transportation to monitor parking count totals in the garage. Overall, the addition of a parking count system to Bear Park South would be a great improvement to Missouri State University.