Resource Road Radio Use Pilot Project

1. Resource Road Radio Use Pilot Project March 2008

2. BACKGROUND • IMPROPER/INCORRECT USE OF 2-WAY RADIOS A KEY FACTOR IN SERIOUS INJURIES AND POSSIBLE FOREST ROAD DEATHS • PROVINCIAL WORKING GROUP FORMED IN 2006 TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM

3. crashes and close calls due to lack of communication or miscommunication • inconsistencies in calling procedures, signage, area frequencies • too many channel changes, especially in multiple user situations (other industries, more than one mill or contractor, etc) • mobility of trucks – moving around the province, working in different areas because of weather and seasonal changes, truck shortages, new BCTS reallocation areas, longer hauls, 2 way hauls, mountain pine beetle, dimension logs, specialized mills....

4. SPECIFIC ISSUES • Overlaps of radio traffic from other operations or adjacent drainages • More than one radio frequency in use on a road. • Too many channel changes, especially in multiple user situations (other industries, more than one mill or contractor, etc) • One time or infrequent users have no access to radio frequencies or radio protocol • Holder of radio frequency, reluctant to provide access to channel to secondary users

5. SPECIFIC ISSUES cont • crashes and close calls because of lack of communication or miscommunication • inconsistencies in calling procedures, signage, area frequencies • Call procedures are unclear or change along a road or road system • mobility of trucks – moving around the province, working in different areas because of weather and seasonal changes, truck shortages, new BCTS reallocation areas, longer hauls, 2 way hauls, mountain pine beetle, dimension logs, specialized mills....

6. VHF Radio Pilot Projects – Working Group • Working Group formed in 2006 to improve resource road safety with representatives from: • MoFR Resource Tenures and Engineering Branch • B.C. Timber Sales • BCMOFR Radio Operations • B.C. Forest Safety Council, Trucksafe • Industry Canada, Spectrum Management • Working group developed a new communications protocol

7. Plus consultation with other stakeholders, including: • Road Use Permit Holders • Contract log haulers • Service industry (fuel, repairs, low beds etc) • Radio suppliers/installers

8. WORKING GROUP PROPOSALS: • ESTABLISH A STAND-ALONE PROVINCE-WIDE SET OF RESOURCE ROAD CHANNELS • MOFR TO ALLOCATE ONE OF THESE CHANNELS TO EACH FOREST SERVICE ROAD SYSTEM • ESTABLISH A COMMON SET OF CHANNELS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING SITES • STANDARDIZED ROAD CHANNEL SIGNAGE AT THE START OF A FOREST SERVICE ROAD • STANDARD FOR KILOMETRE MARKERS TO INCLUDE ROAD NAME, KM STATION AND DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AS USED ON THAT ROAD • TWO PILOT AREAS (CENTRAL/SOUTH VANCOUVER ISLAND/SUNSHINE COAST & OJAY AREA NEAR TUMBLER RIDGE) • IMPLEMENT PROVINCIALLY

10. Regulations • – Forest and Range Practices Act • FOREST SERVICE ROAD USE REGULATIONB.C. Reg. 70/2004

11. Use of 2-way radio (S. 5) • 1) A driver on a forest service road who uses a 2-way radio to communicate with other drivers on the road must announce, in accordance with any road markers posted at intervals along the road,  • (a) his or her position, and  • (b) the branch of the road being travelled, if the radio's signal can be received on more than one adjacent branch of the road.  • (2) Subsection (1) applies to a driver only if  • (a) the driver uses a radio frequency provided by the holder of a private commercial radio station licence, or other licence under the Radiocommunication Act (Canada) and the regulations under that Act, to communicate with the other drivers, and  • (b) the forest service road is posted with a sign that indicates the radio frequency that is to be used.

12. Traffic control devices (S.6) • (1) A district manager or an official may cause a traffic control device to be erected on a forest service road if, in the district manager's opinion, restrictions on the use of the road or the traffic on the road are required to achieve the purposes of section 4 (b) and (c) of the Ministry of Forests Act. • (2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), a traffic control device may be used in any of the following ways:  • (a) to close the road to all traffic or to specified categories or sizes of motor vehicles including those not engaged in commercial activities;  • (b) to close the road totally, or for a specified period of time;  • (c) to regulate the movement of traffic;  • (d) to require the use of 2-way radio systems during certain hours in order to coordinate the movement of traffic, including specifying the radio frequency to be used on portions of forest service roads; • (e) to restrict the use of vehicles having characteristics that could damage the forest service road or create a safety risk;  • (f) to warn drivers of hazardous or unusual conditions existing on forest service roads.

13. Regulation SummaryUse of 2-way radio In general, a driver on a forest service road who uses a licensed 2-way radio to communicate with other drivers on the road must announce his or her position, in accordance with: • any road markers posted at intervals along the road, and • the forest service road sign that indicates the radio frequency that is to be used

14. MoF Position on Radio Use for Staff • Ministry policy has been that handheld radios for communicating with other vehicles on resource roads is not permitted - mobile (truck mounted) radio units are required. • In cases where temporary Ministry staff or Ministry Contractors (such as fire wardens) require access the Ministry can provide a higher power seatback unit (Mobile “breadboard” with magnetic mount antenna) to improve safety and communications with other road traffic. • For Protection staff, fire wardens or other contract users they can obtain a seatback radio by requesting through Regional Radio shops. Several have been ordered for districts.

15. There is a need to develop a standard for operating and communicating on Resource Roads to meet the needs of single and multiple users in order that they may operate and communicate safely.

16. To this end the MOF/BCTS has obtained radio frequencies which are available to provide effective coverage to all users while operating on Forest Service Roads (FSR's.) • No requirement for “letter of authority”—channels are available to all road users

17. COAST PILOT

18. INITIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR PILOT AREAS • Rationalize road systems and if necessary establish new PoC and road names. • Map road systems and spatially assign radio channels • Install frequencies in Ministry radios • Install new Radio Channel and kilometre marker signs • Advise road users • Advise public and others

19. Notification Letter Template • Dear Permittee: • Please be advised that effective _____________ the Ministry of Forests and Range will be implementing part of the Resource Radio Frequency pilot project. All road users will be required to have the proper channels installed for operation on the ______________ Service Road (FSR). Radio frequencies will be posted at the start of the FSR. • It is recommended that permittee's have the full bank of new Resource Road frequencies installed. Industry Canada has sent all radio shops the necessary information to upgrade your radios. The initial frequency for the _______________ FSR is: • ____________, Frequency ____________, Tone __________ • As this is a pilot project, the initial frequency may change if problems with transmissions or reception are encountered. • For more information please view the Ministry of Forests and Range website at • http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/dsi/ or the BC Timber Sales website at • http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/bcts/areas/TSG.htm or contact _______________, Engineering Specialist, BC Timber Sales, Strait of Georgia Business Area, at _______________. • Yours truly, • Trish Balcaen • District Manager • South Island Forest District

20. Establishing Radio Channels

21. Resource Road Channels • A series of Resource Channels have been dedicated for use on FSR’s. These channels have been previously assigned and are unique to each road system. • Radio users are to only use the identified channel for that road system, which will be posted at the start of the FSR (use of alternate RR channels may interfere with other nearby road systems)

22. VHF Radio Pilot Projects – Working Channels • 14 frequencies with 3 tone codes each for a total of 42 dedicated narrow band channels • 33 road and 9 loading channels • low (5W) and high (30W) power channels • standardized signage • standardized radio call procedures

23. 33- RR Channels 9- Loading Channels 42- Channels Total

24. VHF Radio Pilot Projects – Preliminary Testing Results • Results to date: • 5W channels provide adequate coverage in most cases, often getting good audible reception at 7 – 18 km • Subtle ridges can create dead spots but hard to predict by visual inspection, reduces reception to 4 km • Adequate coverage depends on topography and road geometry • Tsitika signage has been very well received

25. FSR Radio Mapping Procedures • The Road Manager will identify the “Main” road and establish Branch names and numbers. • The Road Manager will select the Point of Commencement (PoC) of each road. • The PoC will normally be the log dump, highway connection or junction with another FS road. • The kilometre numbering for each branch road off of the main will recommence at Km 0 and be spatially established.

30. VHF Radio Pilot Testing –Outstanding Issues • What’s an acceptable communication distance? • If 5W channels are implemented will a detailed risk assessment be required on each road to find dead spots and position “must call” signs? • Finalize call procedures • Determine Provincial roll out date • Public awareness

31. Public/Other Commercial Users Awareness • Standardized signage • Standardized channels • Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) • Low watt FM broadcasts is key areas (Sproat Lake 88.1 MHz)

32. Resource Road Call Procedures

33. Radio Call Procedure Goals This procedure is intended to address four distinct parts; • 1) provision of dedicated “Resource Road Safety Channels”; • 2) Provision of operational “Loading Channels” • 3) Establishment of standardized road signage • 4) Development of standardized radio call procedures

34. VHF Radio Pilot Projects – Call procedures • Default Call Procedure identified for province-wide use: • Call frequency: every km traveling in either direction • Call order: Road Name – Kilometer – Direction – Vehicle type • Rules for convoy calling • “Must call” at junctions and other key points

35. Radio Call Procedures When using a radio to announce locations, the operator will; • Call when entering onto the FSR or onto any named spur roads • at each kilometre mark subsequently, or “Must Call” sign • announce vehicle type and then information as indicated on the sign (ie “Fuel Truck,--Eve River—12 km—Up”) • Every vehicle will call each kilometre

36. Road Signage

37. At the PoC of the “main FSR” an identification sign, and the Resource Road (RR) channel (and frequency and tone) sign will be posted

40. Each driveable branch road will have an identification sign posted at the PoC Branch Roads

42. Kilometre Signage • Kilometre signs will be installed at every kilometre—visible from both directions • Signs will indicate road name, road mark and direction of travel. • Kilometre signs will be installed both ways on the road, to cover travel in either direction

46. VHF Radio Pilot Projects - Signage • New signage

47. LOADING CHANNEL ASSIGNMENTS FOR PILOTS

48. Loading Channels • The loading channels are intended to be utilized for communications for operational requirements (e.g. between truck drivers and loader operators, during loading and unloading situations). They are not to be used while travelling on roads • Upon entering a cut block, landing or sort yard the radio channel to be used will be posted along with the worksite operator’s company name. • The worksite operator may select any of the available Loading Channels providing it does not conflict with other users in the immediate area. • The worksite operator will be responsible for supplying and installing the LD sign.

49. Loading Channels cont • The loading channels are intended to be utilized between truck drivers and loader operators, during loading and unloading situations. They are not to be used while traveling on roads • Upon entering cut block, landing or sort yard the radio channel to be used will be posted along with the worksite operators company name.

50. Loading Channels