Knowledge Resources

In May 1999, the Georgia DOT installed call boxes on a 39-mile section of rural Interstate I-185 south of Atlanta. Since power connections and wire-line communications were not feasible in this area, cellular/solar powered call boxes were installed. The call boxes were installed on the southbound and northbound sides of I-185 approximately ½ mile apart. The project included the installation of 147 cellular/solar powered call boxes, installation of computers at three different county 911 centers (1 each), and the installation of a computer at the maintenance center which serviced the area. The total capital cost included training, based on the Bid Tabulation, was $911,873. The average cost for each call box including construction costs was about $5,590. The call box unit cost was derived from the total cost of the call box equipment and installation/construction cost and is not a total project cost divided by the number of call boxes.

A maintenance contract was signed requiring the contractor to maintain the call box and computer systems for 2 years after system acceptance. The contract also called for repair or replacement of equipment at no cost to the Georgia DOT and preventative maintenance be performed on each call box twice a year. The 2-year maintenance contract cost $102,900. Cellular communication with all of the call boxes was provided at a cost of $77,616 for two years.

Notes:
See also:
Kolb, Stephanie, et al, "Georgia’s Call Box Project: Evaluation and Future Deployment Recommendation," paper presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America, June 2001.