Effective Utilization of Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) Technology

19th AnnualTransportation Disadvantaged Best Practices andTraining Workshop Program

August 9th, 2011

ROB GREGG

Welcome

Application of advanced and emerging technologies in information processing, communications, control, and electronics to meet public transportation needs

•Jim Dorsten

•Doug Jamison

•Marsha Moore

WHY?

VOTRAN

LYNX

MV TRANSIT

WHAT?

HOW?WHO?

Why APTS?

• Transportation service providers employ APTS to provide:

▫Customer: Traveler information, more convenient routes, schedules, access

▫Efficiency / Productivity: Lower costs,

operations, maintenance, improved response / travel times

▫Optimize System Management: Planning, monitoring, operator assistance, administrative processes

▫Safety & Security: Controls, surveillance, communication, emergencies

Benefits

Types of APTS1. Communication Systems2. Operational Software (e.g. Scheduling)3. Advanced Traveler Information Systems

(ATIS)4. Electronic Fare Payment (EFP)5. Computer-aided Dispatch (CAD)6. Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)7. Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) or Mobile

Data Computers (MDCs)8. Automatic Passenger Counters (APC)9. Surveillance and Security Equipment10.Coordination and Integration Software

SYSTEM RATING

Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS)

•Includes: internet websites, automated telephone systems, audible enunciators, kiosks, transit stops with automated information, trip planners, smart phone apps

•May be static or real-time•Schedules, fares, routes, transfers, arrival

time, and availability of special equipment•Available on vehicle, at stop, on the

internet, phone, or mobile phone

Advanced Traveler Information Systems

•Manage travel demand (shift demand to non-peak times and trips)

•Improve customer awareness of alternatives and traveler decision making

Why?

•Reduced stress/improved customer satisfaction

•More efficient travel

•Rider retention

Benefits

Electronic Fare Payment

•Pay electronically using a magnetic stripe card or smart card

•Coordinated billing and invoicing betweenhuman services agencies and transit providers

Electronic Fare Payment•Reduced

labor-intensive cash handling costs and risk of theft

•Improved flexibility of fare structure

•Automation of accounting/finances

Why?

•Improved ridership data

•Increased revenue

•Reduced fare abuse

•Quicker boarding

Benefits

Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD)CAD is used to assistagencies in dispatchingparatransit / flex-routing

vehicles and istypically integrated withAVL and otherinformation managementtechnologies, such asscheduling and routingsoftware

Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)• Using a positioning system, such

as the global positioning systems (GPS), and a Geographic Information System (GIS) the operating agency can track its buses

• Combining AVL with ATIS, the agency can alert riders with real-time information

• Combining AVL with CAD, the agency can reroute vehicles to provide flexible service

CAD/AVL

•Flexibility of service•Management of Fleet•Real-time information•Perceived Security Increased

Why?

•More reliable service•Improved schedule adherence •Reduced response time to incidents

Benefits

Mobile Data Terminal/Computer

•An MDT/MDC is a small on-board computer and interface that links the driver to an agency’s computer network through wireless communications

Mobile Data Terminal/Computer

•Improve communication between operators and dispatch•Pre-recorded messages•Automated transfer requests

Why?

•More reliable service•Quicker communications •Reduced response time to incidents•Reduced recording errors

Benefits

Automatic Passenger Counters (APC)

•An APC system provides a transit system with an automated method for collecting information about the number of passenger boardings and alightings at a variety of system levels, including route, route segment, or specific bus stops by time of day and by day of week.

•Can be integrated into AVL systems

Automatic Passenger Counters (APC)

•More accurate ridership data by stop and time of day•Running time dataWhy?

•More accurate reporting•Improved on-time performance

Benefits

Surveillance and Security Equipment

• Safety and security technologies include video surveillance cameras, silent alarms and covert microphones on vehicles, and “smart” cards for driver identification.

• Surveillance and security systems can be provided in transit vehicles and at transit stops and stations.

Surveillance and Security Equipment

•Safety and Security of customers both real and perceived•Ability to archive surveillance video

Why?

•Safer environment on vehicles and at stops and stations•Reduction of customer anxiety

Benefits

Coordination/Integration Software

•This technology helps agencies with scheduling, routing, billing, and reporting.

•Typical applications include:▫ coordinating paratransit routes and

schedules within a single agency or among multiple agencies

▫coordinating fare card usage and billing among multiple agencies

▫integrating software systems across multimodal transit systems

Coordination/Integration Software

•Increase route and schedule efficiency•More accurate billing and reporting

Why?

•Increased productivity •Lower unit costs

Benefits

BusinessObjectives

• Customer:

• Efficiency:

• Performance:

• Service:

• Safety:

Technology Assessment

• Survey

Functional Areas

•Legacy Systems

• Needs

•Benefits

• Priorities

•Conceptual

Plans

System Engineering

• Stakeholders

• Operations

• Cost &

Schedule

•Performance

•Training &

Support

•Test

•Manufacturing

•Implementation

process

ImplementationTest - Operate

• Functional Specs

• Procurement

•Testing

•Training

•Operating

•Maintaining

•Data Management

APTS Success Steps / Cycle

Use the Data!

PanelPresentations

Application of advanced and emerging technologies in information processing, communications, control, and electronics to meet public transportation needs

•Jim Dorsten

•Doug Jamison

•Marsha Moore

WHY?

VOTRAN

LYNX

MV TRANSIT

HOW?WHO?

ROB GREGG

•Jim Dorsten

•Doug Jamison

•Marsha Moore

VOTRAN

LYNX

MV TRANSIT

Why• G&O• Customer• Ops• Employees

How• Planning• System

Engineering

• Procure, Contract

• Train• Maintain

Who• Stakeholder

s• Customer

Markets• Functional

Areas• Enterprise

Data Central

ITS Vee Technical Model

A description of the scope of the ITS project;

An operational concept that identifies the

roles and responsibilities of participating agencies and

stakeholders in the operation

and implementation

of the ITS project;

Identification of applicab

le ITS standard

s.

Procurement

Implementation

System Engineering / Procure / Implement

Small Florida Transit System - LeeTran

APTS Technology Usage

AVL, MDC’s, Scheduling Software

Reservations, trip scheduling, vehicle/operator scheduling, manifests, reporting.

GIS Service planning, long-range planning, stop inventory, ADA accessibility, etc.

Electronic Fareboxes Ticket reader/issue machines with magnetic stripe tickets

Online Trip Planner Assist passengers to plan trips

APCs Service planning and infrastructure planning

Arrival Prediction System

CAD, headway and schedule adherence

Small Florida Transit Systems – Bay Town Trolley

•APC on 6 buses•Zonar AVL on 16 trolley buses•Onboard Annunciators •Electronic Fareboxes – GFI Genfare•Digital recording – Digitial Recorders Inc.•Working towards getting data on Google

Transit

Small Florida Transit System – Key West TransitFull Real TimePassenger InformationSystem - with"pooled"

bidaward pricingincorporated into thecontract - includes GPS,AVL, IVR, APC, digitaldisplay boards, etc., - bidawarded in 2008 toSyncromatics, Inc.

Other Small Florida Transit Systems

ECAT and PCPT both have working AVL andElectronic Fareboxes.

MCAT is in the implementation/testing phase forAVL and APCs.

PCPT, LAMTD and Collier Area Transit arelooking at purchasing ITS technologies within

thenext 18 months.

Steps in Considering APTS Technologies•Assess the issues and/or needs of the

system (In what areas can the system be improved?)

•Collect agency data•Examine existing research/solutions•Prioritize improvements (What will

provide the most benefits?)•Gather existing resources (What grant

programs are available?) •Request proposals from vendors

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AGENDA

Why How Who