Gate System Update: Current Status and Recent Challenges

Let’s begin with where things stand today:

• The Knoll Trail TollTag reader is currently out for service with TransCore (as of April 15, 2026)
• The entry gates remains operational through the CellGate app and standard access methods
• Additional residents (six total) have been trained to assist with gate troubleshooting and recovery
• An second gate contractor with a welding team has been vetted/hgired
• Traffic management devices are in the process of being selected to reduce the likelihood of future gate collisions
• The Association has proactively stocked hard-to-source replacement parts to reduce future downtime

From High Reliability to Recent Strain
For several years following the installation of the CellGate system (July 2023), the community experienced approximately 99% uptime—an exceptional level of performance for a high-traffic access system.

This success was driven not only by the technology itself, but also by a small group of trained resident volunteers who could quickly resolve minor issues and target more complex diagnostics for the gate contractor.

In recent months, however, uptime declined to approximately:

• 97.7% at the front gates (still above industry norms)
• 63% at the rear gates (unacceptable)

This decline was largely due to a combination of external damage and difficult-to-diagnose mechanical and electrical issues.

Fortunately, the community has redundant access methods (i.e., Westgrove, Knoll Trail), allowing controlled entry to be maintained even when individual gates are offline.

Collisions Trigger a Chain of Issues
Two major incidents played a significant role in rthe ecent downtime:

• A FedEx truck struck the Knoll Trail gate (hit-and-run, July 2025)
• An Amazon delivery truck struck the Westgrove gate (hit-and-run, December 2025)

In both cases, the gates were fully open when struck by vehicles traveling at speed while failing to properly clear the opening.

For safety reasons, when one gate is disabled, all gates at that location are opened. While this increases measured downtime, it is necessary to prevent unsafe traffic patterns and reduce the risk of additional accidents—particularly from drivers attempting to navigate partially operational entrances or enter through the exits.

Complex Repairs Behind the Scenes
While the physical damage from these collisions was immediately visible, the more difficult challenge involved intermittent internal damage to the gate operators—the mechanical units responsible for opening and closing the gates. Intermittent failures are especially difficult to diagnose because they:

• Do not occur consistently
• Are often not reproducible during service visits

In one case, the root cause was traced to internal motor wiring intermittently shorting against the metal housing, leading to control board failures.

Resolving these issues required a methodical process of isolating components and replacing parts one at a time. The fastest way to recovery was to take parts from the Knoll Trail gates.

Additional Unrelated Issues
Separate from the collision-related damage, the Knoll Trail gate experienced intermittent cellular connectivity issues. While the system often recovered on its own, outages became more frequent, leading the Association to replace the communication modems to improve reliability (April 16, 2026).

Following this upgrade, it became clear that the TollTag reader was experiencing declining sensitivity. After multiple adjustment attempts, the unit was removed and sent out for service (April 21. 2026).

Looking Ahead
The Association is implementing additional measures to reduce the liklihood of future collisions, including:

• Installation of speed bumps at gate thresholds
• Transverse (crosshatch) surface paint showing the swing path of the Westgrove exit gate
• Evaluation of additional traffic management solutions that enhance safety without compromising the community’s appearance

While recent events temporarily impacted performance, the underlying system remains sound. With expanded on-site expertise, on-property parts inventory, and key repairs underway or completed, the community is now in a stronger position moving forward.

The focus remains on proactive maintenance, faster diagnostics, and reduced repair times—with the goal of restoring the high level of reliability residents have come to expect.