Pasadena Scraps All Bids for Smart Traffic Signal Overhaul

The City Council on Monday rejected all bids for a planned Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and traffic flow improvement project intended to modernize Pasadena’s traffic signal network in the area affected by the SR-710 corridor.

According to a report from the Department of Public Works, the decision comes after staff identified discrepancies in the contractors’ bid proposals that raised questions about the interpretation of certain bid items, including the use of city-furnished materials.

The project will install new traffic signal equipment and fiber-optic communication upgrades at as many as 35 intersections throughout Pasadena’s core commercial area — including Orange Grove Boulevard, Colorado Boulevard, Green Street and Holly Street — south of the 210 Freeway. City officials said the upgrades are aimed at improving signal coordination, reducing delays, and allowing the city to actively manage traffic flow using real-time data.

Seven bids were received by the Sept. 25 deadline, ranging from $2.1 million to $2.75 million, all above the city engineer’s estimate of $1.97 million. None of the bids came from local vendors, despite 56 vendors downloading specifications and one local company expressing interest.

Rejecting all bids allows the city to reissue a revised solicitation with clarified bid documents to ensure fair competition.

Here are the remaining items that passed on Monday’s consent calendar.

• The City Council tabled a five-year, $365,261 contract with Arizona Machinery LLC, doing business as Stotz Equipment, for the purchase of John Deere original parts, service and repair for city-owned lawn care equipment. The item will come back in the next 30 days, The agreement covers maintenance for roughly 28 pieces of John Deere equipment used by the city’s Building Systems and Fleet Management Division to maintain landscaping across parks and municipal buildings. The new contract ensures the city has access to an authorized John Deere dealer for both routine and emergency repairs. Stotz Equipment, based in Montclair, was the lowest responsive bidder among four companies that submitted proposals. The city previously worked with Stotz Equipment, paying more than $400,000 since 2016 for parts and services. The new five-year contract includes a $317,618 base amount and a 15% contingency of $47,643 for unforeseen repair needs. Public Works officials said the expenditure will be funded through the city’s Fleet Maintenance Fund, with no impact to the General Fund. Future contract costs will be budgeted annually.

• Extension of an existing contract with Inter-Con Security Systems, Inc. for parking enforcement services by one year, increasing the total contract value to more than $7.2 million. According to a Department of Transportation report, the one-year extension will add $696,000 to the city’s five-year agreement with the private security firm, bringing the overall contract total to $7,295,218. The amendment will ensure continued parking enforcement citywide while the city evaluates whether to transition the work to in-house staff. Inter-Con has provided parking enforcement services in Pasadena since 2020 under a competitively awarded contract that has already been extended twice. The current agreement expired Oct. 14. In 2024, the City Council approved expanding the city’s own parking enforcement team from four to 10 full-time officers to enhance enforcement, particularly around the Pasadena Playhouse parking meter zone. Despite the expansion, city officials said supplemental contract staffing remains necessary to maintain adequate coverage, especially for overnight parking enforcement.

• Updates to Pasadena’s Traffic Reduction and Transportation Improvement Fee, a funding mechanism used to support transportation infrastructure tied to new development. The updated fee structure — the first major revision since 2017 — is designed to ensure developers continue paying a fair share toward traffic management, safety, and mobility projects as the city grows. A formal public hearing and first reading of the ordinance are scheduled for later this month, after which the council is expected to adopt the changes. According to the Department of Transportation, most of the proposed fees will decrease compared to current rates, except for the “medical office” category, which will increase to better reflect higher traffic generation from that use. The revision also introduces several new land use categories, including lodging, hospitals, and research and development facilities, which were previously grouped under broader categories like office or multifamily residential. Under the new schedule, the fee for new single-family homes would range from $4,474 to $5,722 per unit, depending on square footage. Multifamily residential units would range from $1,705 to $2,352 per unit, while medical offices would pay $20.66 per square foot. Other rates include $11.89 per square foot for retail, $7.57 for standard office, and $1.15 for industrial uses. Lodging uses would be assessed $1,437 per room. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) under 900 square feet or governed by a housing agreement would be exempt from the fee, consistent with state law. Larger ADUs would be assessed a proportional fee based on their size relative to the main dwelling. The revised fees are based on a nexus study conducted by transportation consultants Fehr & Peers, which analyzed growth patterns and projected traffic demand through 2035. The study estimated that new development would account for roughly 12% of Pasadena’s future traffic increases, equating to about $43.7 million in needed transportation investments. The new funds would help support projects identified in the city’s Capital Improvement Program, Local Roadway Safety Plan, and Pedestrian Transportation Action Plan — including intersection upgrades, bike and pedestrian safety improvements, and smart traffic signal systems. The Transportation Advisory Commission and Municipal Services Committee both endorsed the updated fee structure earlier this year, and several local business groups — including the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and the Playhouse Village Business Improvement District — expressed support. If adopted next week, the updated fees will be incorporated into the Fiscal Year 2026 Schedule of Taxes, Fees, and Charges and take effect later this year.