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BACKGROUND <br /> The LPFD currently operates two aerial trucks, each being owned separately and <br /> deployed in each partner city In addition to the existing aerial truck being at the end of its <br /> service life, the equipment storage capacity is severely diminished by the relative short <br /> length of the vehicle and the corresponding equipment spaces being taken up by water <br /> tanks and fire pumps Due to the limited equipment storage capacity, the LPFD has had <br /> to supplement the existing aerial truck with an additional apparatus known as a Rescue <br /> which can be retired with the arrival of the TDA apparatus <br /> The replacement TDA apparatus is a specialty vehicle designed to bring immediate <br /> firefighting capability including emergency equipment to a fire emergency The TDA <br /> platform provides benefits to the Department and partner cities in two key areas 1) <br /> operational functionality and 2) financial savings Operational functionality is improved <br /> through additional storage capacity and increased maneuverability The increased <br /> storage capacity is possible due to a longer vehicle with a Tn-Max Foam System for fire <br /> suppression This suppression system takes up approximately 1/10th of the space as <br /> compared to systems in the currently deployed trucks, allowing for more equipment <br /> storage The maneuverability is greatly increased by the ability to steer the trailer section <br /> separately from the tractor, which drastically reduces the vehicle's turning radius and <br /> increases accessibility into narrow streets and smaller cul-de-sacs found in the majority <br /> of new developments The TDAs are of an appropriate length and height to fit in the fire <br /> stations currently housing the existing aerial truck <br /> Fiscal savings are realized through maintenance savings and the ability to reduce the <br /> fleet size Life cycle maintenance and repair costs are expected to decrease as the ability <br /> of the TDA to articulate between the tractor portion and the trailer reduces the strain on <br /> the body chassis, lessening vehicle stress, tire wear and overall maintenance The TDA's <br /> increased equipment storage capability allows the removal of the Rescue support vehicle <br /> from the current fleet, a $600k savings at time of replacement <br /> DISCUSSION <br /> The initial LPFD discussions for moving to a TDA platform were motivated by the approval <br /> of both partner cities to reduce street widths and allow for much smaller cul-de-sacs, <br /> restricting our long-wheel based aerial apparatus' access to a number of residential <br /> areas Over time, a task force comprised of both Command and Line Staff was formed <br /> and charged with researching available alternatives to the evolving challenges faced by <br /> the department by evaluating the strategies of other local departments and, ultimately, <br /> developing design and cost options The task force learned that most of the Bay Area's <br /> fire departments had either already migrated to the TDA platform or were actively <br /> planning to do so After thoroughly evaluating our current fleet and fire/emergency <br /> strategies and how they addressed the changing requirements of our partner cities, it was <br /> determined the best alternative was to migrate away from our current long-wheeled based <br /> aerial truck to the more agile and capable TDA platform The aerial truck currently in <br /> service was scheduled for replacement in the FY 2016-2017 budget, providing the <br /> timeframe opportunity and funding to make the change to the TDA platform <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br />