PROJECT SYNOPSIS

Attachment A

CAD/AVL Questions

Part I: General Questions

Vendor, CAD/AVL, and Post-Deployment 0. Vendor and CAD/AVL

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Question

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Describe the key distinctions of your CAD/AVL solution that differentiates it from the rest of the market.

How many public transit clients does your company currently service?

How many CAD/AVL implementations within public transit has your company accomplished in the last 5 years? Describe unique problems that your company solved for your public transit customers

How many CAD/AVL implementations has your company accomplished with a fleet of over 400 vehicles in the last 5 years?

How many CAD/AVL implementations has your company accomplished with integration with P25 voice and cellular data technology?

Roughly, how long have your CAD/AVL implementations taken from Notice to Proceed to Final Acceptance?

a) With inclusion of implementation of voice and data communications

b) With the voice and data communications structure already in place

What is your experience with the following voice Radio hardware requirements?

1. Design the radio installation and integration for each vehicle type;

2. Plan the installation of radios;

3. Install mobile voice radios, interconnecting cables, power conditioning equipment, coaxial cable, and antennas;

4. Design and install interfaces between the on-board CAD/AVL system and the mobile radios and, between the consoles and the central CAD/AVL systems to provide the complete functionality required;

5. Integrate mobile voice radios with the CAD/AVL system through the MDT and/or VLU and provide the services in items 1 through 4 above for the combined mobile radio/MDT; and

6. Document as-built installations.

7. Develop the testing plan for review and approval by the owner.

8. Conduct all required systems testing,

9. Develop and provide training,

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In what year did your company start developing and selling CAD/AVL solutions?

Describe a typical service level agreement that you would offer to your customers.

Does your company support any user groups that are relevant to public transit?

Where is your company’s closest office to Oakland Ca?

Describe the tenure and experience of the senior management team

Does your company have a satisfaction program? How does your company measure customer satisfaction?

Describe end-user support policies, services and capabilities, including availability of support staff, number of support staff dedicated to your application, availability of service level reporting, and response time for high priority issues.

Does your company have a support site or portal?

How long has the current version of the software been in production?

Discuss the future of the application in the next 3 to 5 years, detailing development efforts related to new functionality and modules.

Provide a diagram of the relationship between modules and the integration points between those modules.

Describe how application software updates are ‘pushed out’

Describe your support policy for end-of-life and near end-of-life applications

Post-Deployment Purchase Options

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Describe options available from your company to purchase additional units of onboard equipment after deployment.

Describe options available from your company to purchase additional software licenses after deployment.

Describe options available from your company to purchase extended Maintenance and Warranty agreements.

Describe options available from your company to purchase training vouchers after System Acceptance.

Part II: Technical Questions

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Central Systems

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Central System Options0. Hosted Central System Option

The responder should provide a detailed description for a vendor hosted central system solution. This shall include any assumptions and information that would allow AC Transit to make a decision on this option.

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Describe your company’s ability to host a central system solution.

Describe the District’s infrastructure and resource requirements should the District select the hosted Central System option.

Describe how the solution would differ from the traditional CAD/AVL solution with respect to delivery, implementation, and warranty

Provide a rough implementation timeline for the hosted solution.

Redundant Central System Options

The responder should provide a detailed description of the proposed solution for a separate, physically redundant site located at the agency’s disaster recovery site in Sacramento. This shall include any assumptions and information that would allow AC Transit to make a decision on this option.

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Is your company able to implement and integrate a parallel backup central system at a location separate from the primary central system? The backup central system should maintain full operation indefinitely, with automatic and immediate failover if the primary central system becomes not fully operational.

Can the primary system provide redundant connections to the cellular data WAN link, voice radio system WAN link, and AC Transit’s WAN to garages and user workstations?

Can the primary system supply provisions to connect temporary workstations directly to the backup system if needed?

When the primary system becomes available after an outage, can the backup system automatically revert operation back to the primary system?

Can the primary system hardware operate at the Disaster Recovery site in Sacramento?

Hardware General

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Does the solution include a ‘complete’ central system, where all needed functions are delivered in a turnkey manner, with any equipment, software or work needed to create a complete system included as part of the delivery?

Does delivery of the solution include minimally, all needed computer processing devices, keyboards and navigation devices, and displays for devices, workstations and servers as well as networking and communications equipment?

Does the solution have the capability to reside on an AC Transit IT subnet, as opposed to being a separate “stand-alone” network?

Does the solution include a data archiving and retrieval function?

Describe the central system’s failover capability, including logging and notification.

What reporting rates back to the OCC for a vehicle location upon request by the OCC is the solution able to provide?

What reporting rates for any GPS-equipped asset within a Controller selected geographic region is the solution able to provide? .

What superior display technologies is the system capable of incorporating with each workstation?

Does the solution allow incorporating the functionality of both CAD/AVL and Radio with a single keyboard and mouse?

Is the solution capable of detecting faults on field equipment and raising an alarm on the Controller and Maintenance workstations within 60 seconds?

Is the solution capable of displaying and storing all system measurements in US Customary units (inches, feet, yards, and miles)?

Describe the GPS data elements that the system is capable of receiving and storing from each vehicle.

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Does the solution provide a separate, totally disconnected System Administration and test environment with sufficient hardware and software to comprise a small-scale representation of the production system?

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Does the solution provide a central system test environment that incorporates sufficient hardware and software to comprise an adequate small-scale representation of the entire production system including servers, workstations, databases, storage, networking, onboard equipment, onboard equipment interconnections, voice communications and data communications including two CAD/AVL training units simulating bus operations and conditions?

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Is the system capable of continuous functionality should AC Transit change cellular providers or technology where cellular technology operates at similar or higher speeds?

Garage WLAN Access Points

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Does the solution have the capability to provide wireless Access Point (AP) coverage at all AC Transit Bus Depots to enable WLAN connectivity for data exchange between the onboard VLU and the central system via Bulk Data Transfer?

Does the system allow the VLU to authenticate automatically when the vehicles enter inside the Wi-Fi accessible zone without manual intervention?

Describe the WLAN equipment protocols, compliances, and frequencies that the solution supports.

Describe the functions that the solution’s WLAN Controller supports.

Is the Contractor able to provide a WLAN controller at all three garages where the WLAN controller and wireless APs shall support the following functions?

1. The WLAN controller shall automatically detect and configure the wireless APs.

2. The WLAN controller shall provide full control of the wireless APs.

3. Wireless APs shall monitor radio frequency characteristics including receive signal strength, noise, and interference (from other 802.11 radios) on all channels in its operational frequency band. The data shall be collected and analyzed by the WLAN controller.

4. The WLAN controller shall use the real time radio frequency monitoring information received from the Wireless APs to optimize the WLAN capacity.

5. The WLAN controller shall assign radio channels to each Wireless AP to avoid interference and channel conflicts.

6. The WLAN Controller shall dynamically control the transmit power of each Wireless AP to maximize WLAN coverage and performance while minimizing interference with neighboring Wireless APs in the WLAN system.

SoftwareGeneral

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Does the core CAD/AVL operational components (controller workstation, servers, WLAN access points via firewall, remote access servers, etc.) have the capability to reside on separate virtual LANs, for example, on AC Transit’s network within an address space and numbering convention to be provided by the agency?

Is all CAD/AVL software completely independent of the hardware that it resides on?

Describe comprehensive system security plans that your company has developed for your CAD/AVL solutions, including access control based on groups, user ability to change passwords, encryption, server authentication etc.

Does the solution provide the capability to issue alarms at failures such as the following?

A network device or communications fault;

A security breach;

A device fault;

A failed or incomplete data transfer; and

Server services failure

Does the system have the capability to generate and disseminate real-time transit traveler information to the regional 511 system, agency-owned infrastructure, and web/mobile services?

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Does the solution provide a separate Real Time Passenger Information System? If so, describe

Describe the system’s capability to accurately update real-time arrival predictions and service alerts based on:

1. Service adjustments

2. Detours

3. Cancelled services

4. Supplemental services

5. Drop off only

6. Addition of supplemental service (trippers)

Describe the system’s capability to report Real-time arrival predictions for services operated under headway management mode.

0. Network

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Is the proposed system an end-to-end IP based solution?

Database

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RESPONSE

Does the solution operate on a Microsoft SQL server relational database management platform?

Describe the solution’s archiving, backup, and recovery solution, including the equipment and systems necessary to implement the solution.

Describe the solution’s Long Term database and how frequently it is populated from the active database, and data retention periods.

SystemGeneral

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Describe the solution’s CAD/AVL system functionality, and how it has been previously proven in transit operations.

Describe how the System integrates with the voice and data communications system.

Does the system detect failures and restart processes automatically?

Does the system check for service failures and relay the status on the CAD/AVL display?

Does the system allow Controllers to seamlessly switch the handset between the voice radio and telephone headset?

Does the system provide representation and management of fixed route service by the following?

1. Run: This refers to the complete piece of work for an operator (duties) that may include vehicle changes during the course of the day.

2. Block: This refers to the complete piece of work for the vehicle or driver, which may include multiple routes/interlined trips, and operators.

3. Route: This refers to the overall route identifier, under which there would be a series of patterns.

4. Trip: This refers to a specific one‐way trip for the vehicle related to start/end times and points.

5. Timepoints/Stops: Timepoint refers to a point along a route where trips are assigned arrival or departure times. A stop is defined as an established location where public transport customers may board or alight from a transit vehicle in revenue service

Does the system allow individual Controllers to:

1. Logon with appropriate password;

2. Logoff; and

3. Enter standby or “break” mode that will automatically transfer work assignments to another controller without requiring Controllers to logoff the system?

Does the system save all user preferences by user logon so that users may access their saved preferences from any CAD workstation?

Does the system provide on‐line manuals and help functions?

Does the system have the capability to notify AC Transit automatically by email and/or CAD/AVL text messaging of significant service disruptions, such as unusual delays, incidents, detours, or missed trips? .

Does the system allow Controllers access to non-CAD/AVL applications and resources from the same workstation (email, PDFs)?

Does the system provide the following basic views, which can be sorted by all available fields, in addition to the message queues?

1. Map displays (allowing for multiple map windows and zoom settings);

2. Route displays indicating vehicles relative to stops along a route;

3. Vehicle lists of all vehicles active in the system;

4. Operator lists of all operators logged into the system;

5. Trip lists of all trips currently active in the system;

6. Incident or event lists (for work assigned to controller or vehicle‐specific) which shows all actions conducted through the CAD/AVL;

7. Summaries of pull‐out/pull‐in status by first/last timepoint, location, block, and depot in separate summaries;

8. Linear headway display (“Bus Spacing” display); and

9. Operator First Name, Last Name, and employee ID.

Does the system provide interlining information to identify impacts of late pullouts, detours and/or bus‐bridge assignments and notify Controllers of these impacts?

Does the system provide customizable route attributes, (e.g., high frequency, interlining routes, etc.) allowing for route prioritization in different classifications?

Does the system support the ability to allow Controllers to issue special instructions to operators/vehicles in ad hoc or predefined geographic areas?

Is the system capable of operating on a 36-hour clock?

Does the system identify vehicles at normal layovers? When an operator indicates vehicle is in layover status?

Does the system provide real‐time notification to Controllers of significant traffic delays and road closures?

Does the system have provisions for planned special events such as the following?

1. Predefined special routes

2. Predefined detours

3. Predefined text messages to operator for the event vehicles.

Does the system allow geographic distribution of functions among Controller positions? For example, one Controller might focus on maintenance and incidents; another would focus on service management and performance.

Vehicle Tracking

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Describe the accuracy level of the performance and output of the CAD/AVL data and mapping software when reconciling to stop and street locations.

What is the base frequency for updates of the location of each vehicle on the data network?

Does the system have the capability to accept location data from sources without MDTs, such as nonrevenue vehicles and portable radios, and display all resources as distinct layers and icons on the CAD/AVL maps?

Does the system allow user(s) to manually relocate stale and/or non-communicating coaches to an AC Transit defined location (e.g. vehicles towed to garages)?

Is the system able to perform queries at regular intervals to determine the location and number of buses that have not moved but should be moving (e.g. “Stuck”) within specific, configurable time periods? Does the system show all stuck vehicles simultaneously on the AVL map?

Communication

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Describe the communication solutions that the system has successfully interfaced with. Include hardware and console interfaces.

Describe how the System sets the priority of incoming calls.

Does the system support of RTT, PRTT, and EA methods of voice radio communications?

Does the system provide a summary table or display that demonstrates the level of communications “reliability” with vehicles currently in operation?

Does the system provide Controllers with the ability to temporarily suspend vehicle late threshold and late‐pull out threshold status messages from appearing in the status message queue?

Does the system allow the potential to integrate with the AC Transit phone system that will allow Controllers to use a single headset to switch between the phone and voice communications systems?

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How are calls initiated from portable radios to OCC identified?

Does the system allow integrated CAD/AVL-Voice Radio private call capability to any vehicle?

Does the system allow 2-way communications to a subset of vehicles?

Are Controllers able to conduct the following type of voice calls?

1. One‐way group calls between the Controller and multiple vehicles defined by:

a. Individual and/or multiple route(s) (including all vehicles currently interlining on that route)

b. Specifically identified vehicles

c. Rubber band or map selection of all vehicles within a selected area in the map

d. Predefined graphical areas

e. By all buses from a specific Division/depot

f. By all buses in the fleet

g. Conference calls between OCC, buses, and support vehicles.

2. PA announcements on‐board a specific vehicle or group of vehicles as defined in (1) above.

3. Calls to a predefined talkgroup

Does the system provide a translation of bus number to radio ID number to initiate a private call from the Controller to the vehicle simply by entering the vehicle number?

Does the system receive radio location coordinates of non-revenue vehicles on a regular basis?

Text Messaging

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Does the system provide two (2) ‐way text messaging between transit vehicles and Controllers with the following capacity?

1. Selecting a message from the queue;

2. Selecting vehicle(s) from a list;

3. Selecting route(s), (including the option for all current and future vehicles interlining on that route) from a list;

4. Entering an operator ID, VID or group ID, Division ID;

5. Entering a route ID or block ID;

6. Rubber band or map selection of all vehicles within a selected area in the map;

7. Predefined graphical areas

8. Fleet wide

9. Pre-defined or ‘canned’

10. Freeform

What are the limits on the number of canned messages supported per device type?

Describe how canned text messages are added, changed or deleted. Describe the user level (System Admin?) required to add, change, or delete canned messages.

Does the system allow the Controller to schedule text messages to be sent at logon or at some future time, to notify operators of route changes, detours, or special announcements?

Does the system allow Controllers to send free form and canned text messages to the ASA readerboards?

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Emergency Alarm

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Describe how the System supports the Emergency Alarm (covert) function.

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Does The Controller have the option at any time to end the covert microphone monitoring or the overall covert alarm event?

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Does the system alert all Controllers and all Road Supervisors of an EA event?

Other Alarms

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Is the system capable of indicating schedule adherence for all in‐service fixed route vehicles?

Does the software allow the system to receive detour and alternate route information that prevents the off‐route notification when a bus is on detour or alternate route?

Does the system support reporting to downstream systems (e.g., Real‐time public information) the current vehicle path (e.g. Scheduled, Scheduled Detour, Unscheduled, etc.)?

Does the software generate automated messages for vehicles that have not performed a wheel chair lift test prior to pull out, or if a coach has crossed a geographic threshold?

Map Displays

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Does the software support GIS data from Tom Tom, as provided by AC Transit for the map display with utilities to enable future GIS data updates?

Describe the configurable display Icons used to describe the status of a vehicle and mobile and portable devices on the map

Is the map display capable of displaying a variety of geographic features with names? Is it possible for Controllers to independently set features to be visible or hidden by map layers without limitations on the numbers of layers? Can the map display, at a minimum, display these features?

1. Freeways and highways (with appropriate shields and alternate names)

2. Major and minor streets (with appropriate names)

3. Rail track

4. Transit centers

5. Transfer points

6. Bus stops and stations

7. Landmarks

8. Rivers, lakes, and other major bodies of water

9. Parks

10. City, county, and police boundaries/ jurisdictions.

11. Agency maintenance yards

12. Airports, hospitals, police stations, fire stations, and schools

13. Any landmark designated by AC Transit or created by Controllers

Is the system capable of tracking the last known location and direction of powered down GPS enabled devices?

Are Controllers able to create, delete and change map views specific to their log‐on profile?

Does the system include a function that provides identification of support vehicles and GPS enabled Security mobile and portable radios closest to an individual vehicle selected by the Controller?

Does the system allow selection of any time period for replay of historical data?

Performance Summaries

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RESPONSE

Describe the various Performance summary displays that the software provides

Does the software screens provide access to a route display showing the locations of all vehicles in service along a specified route, along with supporting information such as:

1. Headways

2. Gapping

3. Schedule status

4. Scheduled departure

5. Current route

6. Next route

7. Controller action (added trip, etc.)?

Does the Performance summary displays allow for “drill‐down” selection by Controllers where a Controller can select a route of interest and bring up the associated route display with further drill downs for block and vehicle information?

Resource Status Displays

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QUESTION

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Describe the various Resource Status displays that the software provides.

Does the software provide a resource status summary display which allows a window view of the following?

1. Current support vehicle status (busy, available, assigned minor mechanical repairs, incident numbers being dealt with, etc.) as indicated through the Remote Desktop Application.

2. Current field support personnel status notes as entered by OCC based on voice communications.

3. Information that can be populated into an incident such as employee name, badge number, vehicle number, unit ID, location, etc.

Are Controllers able to locate the following information from the resource status display?

1. Location of support resource on the AVL map.

2. Copies of active and current day incident forms dealt with by that support resource on the RDA?

Are Controllers and RDA users able to set status of RDA users (e.g. available, on break/ lunch, unavailable, etc.) and assignment information such as current assignment, finished assignments, time assigned and who made the assignment, etc.?

Incident Management

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Describe basic functionality that the system’s Incident Management offers

How are incidents tagged and identified?

Does the system document events/incidents with automated tags for specific types of information, based on incident requirements?

Does the system support an integrated incident/event forms functionality which operates in conjunction with the other CAD/AVL functions and displays?

Is the system able to distinguish service adjustments separate from other incidents and events?

Does the system support the ability to tag an incident record with an index or link to specific CCTV frame(s)/snippets in the future?

Does the user interface support “speed keys” and “auto fill” for incident reports and message queue fields?

Does the system include functionality to reopen incidents/events to add additional information regarding an incident or event with logging of changes?

Does the system support routing of messages and incidents between Controllers based on work assignments, previous dealings with the vehicle/incident, and ability to pass information between subsystems?

Does the system allow the transference of Maintenance related operational data collected from CAD/AVL to the Maintenance Division (online/remotely) to allow for diagnosis?

Does the system support the ability to transfer forms between Controllers and Road Supervisors who are using RDA?

Does the system allow Maintenance related operational data collected from the CAD/AVL to be made available to the Maintenance divisions (online/remotely) to allow diagnosis?

Transfer Protection

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Does the software provide for pre‐planned, protected transfers obtained from the District’s scheduling system data and imported to CAD/AVL?

Does the software include service management tools that alert Controllers when a critical transfer or “meet” is not going to happen and a decision is needed?

Are Controllers able to identify and initiate an ad hoc or parameter based protected transfer through the use of a dialogue box with the appropriate parameters to be filled out by the Controller?

Configuration

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Does the system allow the distribution of work among Controllers by configurable groups of routes, service types, geographic area, operational function, VID, blocks, routes or trips, with all data associated with a block, or trips on that route being directed to particular Controllers?

Does the system allow Division based roles to provide filtering that includes all of the following:

1. Scheduled blocks by specified Division

2. Scheduled personnel by specified Division

3. Assigned vehicles by specified Division?

Does the system allow the following types of vehicle status to be flagged as exceptions, through the use of a different color or other means and trigger an alert directed to the Controllers?

1. Behind schedule by an AC Transit configurable period

2. Running early by an AC Transit configurable period

3. Not logged in

4. Off‐route by an AC Transit configurable distance

5. Emergency/panic alarm activated

6. Late pull‐out by an AC Transit configurable period

7. Leaving a layover late by an AC Transit configurable period

Do Controllers have an option to query a list of all vehicle operators currently driving a particular route, including at least the following information?

1. Operator name

2. Operator Status such as: full time, part time, regular, regular relief, extra board, vacation relief

3. Employee number

4. Route number

5. Vehicle number

6. Trip number

7. Home Division

8. Time vehicle departed base

9. Time operator due back to base;

10. Whether the operator is returning the vehicle to base or being relieved in the field?

Does the system allow Controllers to view vehicle details such as vehicle type, make/model, Division assignment, route assignment, schedule adherence, block/trip, Vehicle ID number, and run number?

Do Controllers have the option to see a list of routes and/or vehicles that are currently affected by a detour in time order by the next affected vehicle in one (1) or both directions?

Service Adjustments

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QUESTION

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Does the system include functionality for adjustments to service including the following as a minimum?

1. Modifications to time points to support service adjustments such as detours, alternate routes, etc.

2. Cancel or add blocks/trips

3. Adjust for temporary detours

4. Reassign or remove vehicles from certain routes or blocks (e.g. may be required by a mechanical issue or bus bridge)?

Does the system include management for a series of standard service restoration/correction functions including the following?

1. Detour – Activate predefined detours for service routes.

2. Ad‐hoc Detour – Create short term detours for accidents/incidents and events.

3. Delete/Add a Trip – Delete or add trip to a block to adjust service levels.

4. Replace a Vehicle/Operator – Assign a replacement vehicle and/or operator to take over service from a scheduled block that cannot continue for any reason.

5. Skip Stop – Notify an operator to bypass a series of stops to restore headways, with the ability to identify and log the starting and stopping point for the skip stop measure.

6. Initiate headway management instead of schedules. The headway mode will automatically evenly distribute the vehicles on the route. In this mode, schedule adherence will not be monitored, but Controllers will receive indications that instead highlight instances of bunching and/or gapping

Does the system allow displaying of adjusted timed transfer points, RSA, vehicles, and routes/trips?

Does the system support the assignment of buses to “fictitious” blocks, routes that do not have schedule adherence and route IDs?

Are Controllers able to transmit detour directions/instructions for buses to any vehicle/resource in the field?

Does the system calculate and store lost service miles and hours for later reporting?

Does the system provide a tool that provides a prioritized list of vehicles available for “fill” service and/or other ad‐hoc needs, such as “Bus‐Bridge.”?

Does the system store all detours for future use?

Is the system able to log and disseminate service adjustment information to non-Controller personnel, such as AC Transit Customer Service, Division Superintendents?

Bus Bridging

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RESPONSE

Does the system recommend replacement vehicles and drivers taking into consideration status of the potential replacement driver (full/part time, regular, Extra Board, vehicle schedule, vehicle maintenance required, operator assignments, etc.)?

Does the system support Control with the ability to identify the number and location (garage) of available vehicles for assignment to Bus Bridges, service restorations (e.g. fills or trades), and other ad hoc service adjustments (e.g. gap filling to restore consistent service headways)?

Does the system support different classifications of Bus Bridges, including: planned and unplanned and within both, major or minor?

Does the system identify available and appropriate vehicles for an unplanned bus bridge if vehicles need to be pulled from service?

Is the system able to denote high priority bus routes with color-coding or other means in order to address rail (BART) stoppage needs?

Is the system able to alert Window Dispatchers of events that impact requests for vehicles?

Does the system assist the Controller with route management of the line(s) where buses have been removed from service for the bus bridge?

Is the system able to assist the Controller with route management of lines(s) where vehicles have been removed from service due to the bus bridge?

Remote Dispatch Application (RDA)

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Describe the system’s support of a Contractor installed Remote Dispatch Application and its functionality, including the Remote Dispatch’s map display functionality.

Does the RDA provide computer aided dispatch and monitoring functionality similar to the central site CAD, including at a minimum the following functionality?

1. Remote fleet and vehicle monitoring;

2. Bi‐directional text messaging between the RDA and OCC or RDA and bus MDTs;

3. Receive, create, update and save incident reports and forms;

4. Remote fleet and vehicle monitoring management;

5. Display of system‐wide bus timetables;

6. Display of stop‐based schedule performance;

7. Display of maps and turn‐by‐turn directions;

8. Access to paddle (i.e. block schedule) information;

9. Ability to display incident/message queues;

10. Access to Trip Planning Data (this may be accomplished by providing Street Supervisors with Internet access to the AC Transit web site); and

11. Ability to receive messages sent between buses and OCC. Messages shall be AC Transit configurable by line(s) or geographic area

Does the RDA allow users to set status (e.g. available, on‐break/lunch, unavailable, etc.) and assignment information such as current assignment, finished assignments, time assigned and who made the assignment, etc.? Status information set by RDA shall be recorded by the central system and automatically displayed at the Controller workstation(s)?

Are Controllers able to assign a response to the closest available support vehicles?

Does the RDA have the capability to exchange data securely through the commercial data radio?

Does the RDA allow Road Supervisors the ability to have remote access to information stored on the Central System through laptops through a commercial cellular data service?

Desktop Display Web Application

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Does the system include a desktop display system that allows any authorized user within AC Transit to have read/view/query/report access to the fixed route CAD displays, using a CITRIX based system on their own desktop?

Does the system allow for integration of the web based functionality into an AC Transit web site through a web frame?

Does the desktop display provide AVL Playback functionality and Real time performance and incident data?

Headway Management

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

AC Transit’s BRT lines will operate in headway management. Does the system provide both route schedule adherence and headway based management for vehicles?

Do Controllers have the ability to select ad-hoc or predefined headways between vehicles by route, corridor block or trip?

Does the system notify OCC if headways cannot be maintained with the current available vehicles and suggest an alternate headway?

Is the system able to suggest the number of vehicles necessary to maintain a given headway identified by Controllers?

Data Gateway

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Is the prospective proposer able to set up the cellular data gateway to allow all incoming and outgoing messages between the system and the MDCs to be transmitted using the cellular data communications system?

Is the prospective proposer able to arrange the appropriate communication protocols with the selected cellular provider?

WLAN Gateway

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Describe the bulk data exchange management software that will be supplied to transfer data to and from the vehicle.

Is the bulk data transfer software capable, at a minimum, of the follow tasks?

1. Download software updates/patches and configuration data for onboard devices;

2. Download all updated schedule and trigger zone locations data required for operation of the VLU firmware

3. Upload vehicle components monitoring configuration data;

4. Download updated trigger zones locations and announcement sign messages for automated annunciation systems on-board announcements;

5. Upload revenue transactions data from fareboxes; and

6. Allow for the uploading of other on-board logged data when needed?

ReportingContractor Provided Reports

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Describe the System’s ad-hoc, custom, and canned reporting tools, utilities, and features

Does the reporting utility allow reports to be printed, exported to a standard spreadsheet application, or converted to PDF?

Does the system produce any of the following canned reports?

· Schedule Adherence (e.g. by stop);

· Missed Trips;

· Stop Time Analysis;

· Layover/Recovery;

· In-service Hours;

· Actual-hours and Actual-Miles;

· Route Deviation;

· Travel time and Average Speeds;

· Origin and Destination Information;

· Dashboard;

· Deadhead;

· Wheelchair Lift Use (e.g. by stop);

· Bike Rack Use (e.g. by stop);

· Luggage Bay Use (e.g. by stop);

· Incidents;

· Bus Change-off;

· Collisions;

· Initial Collision;

· General Delays;

· Trip Delays;

· Trip Cancellation;

· Equipment Issues;

· Vehicle Locations;

· Vehicle Speeds;

· System Diagnostics;

· Automatic Passenger Counting (e.g. by stop); and

· Maintenance (for preventative

· Performance statistics by workstation

· Maintenance, include for identification of component parts on each AC Transit vehicle, triggered alarms, mileage; total idle time and idle fuel usage, as well as fuel rate).

· Onboard device status reports

0.

Does the system provide a utility to create ad-hoc reports using stored data within the system databases?

Does the system partition large tables to allow faster reporting and improved reporting performance?

Data IntegrationSchedule and Daily Operations Data Transfer

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Does the system provide for the import of stop and route mapping data using common or industry standard file formats?

Describe any web service tools that the System employs to exchange data

AC Transit uses HASTUS for scheduling, and will implement HASTUS for Daily Operations. Describe how the System supports interfaces to and from the HASTUS suite

Does the system support export of actual service performed (as opposed to scheduled service) to external data sources such as an Enterprise Database or HASTUS Daily modules?

Does the system allow for full or partial updates of schedule, stop, and spatial information from the HASTUS Scheduling system?

Does the system accept incremental updates of schedule data from HASTUS Scheduling on an as-needed basis?

Does the system allow updated and/or new schedules automatically pushed to the fleet on a weekly or daily basis, to be configured by AC Transit?

Does the system allow the ability to import and utilize both schedule and headway based operational schedules?

0.

AC Transit will export data to Real Time Passenger Information sources such as 511.ORG. SIRI has been established as the standard communications protocol. Does the system support SIRI protocols?

0.

Does the system support the export of all location, schedule adherence, alarm, text message, incident report, operator run assignments, and all other data collected by the onboard systems to intermediate SQL tables?

Does the system provide an export tool?

Does the system provide an import tool for, at a minimum:

!. Vehicle import

2. Employee import

Automated Vehicle Announcements (AVA)

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Describe how the System will support or provide functionality for existing AVA central software either through integration with the current ACS AVA central software, or by replacing the current software to generate and manage next stop, customer, and other announcements, manage device configurations, generate reports, and manage device fault reporting and logs in compliance with the requirements of the United States Access Board

Does the system include functionality to import route and stop data from an external system via AC Transit file(s) (e.g. Comma Separated Value (CSV), tab delimited)?

Does the AVA software include the ability to independently configure audio and text messages associated with a specific stop?

Does the AVA software support announcements using at minimum English plus any number of additional languages

Does the AVA software support the creation of audio messages using both text-to-speech synthesized and recorded voice?

Does the AVA l software allow abbreviations to be configured, so that when they are used in the configuration data the synthesized voice would interpret as corresponding complete words (e.g., “SW” configured to be interpreted as “Southwest,” “St” to be interpreted as “Street”)?

Does the AVA software provide a means to record and generate audio announcements and to define message-stop associations?

Can the AVA software be installed on a desktop PC or server supplied by AC Transit, accessible by multiple clients or workstations if on a server, and configured with required hardware and operating system software?

Onboard SystemsComponentsVLU

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Describe the Onboard Systems and Components that will be deployed with the CAD/AVL installations:

Vehicle Logic Unit (VLU)

GPS

Automated Vehicle Location (AVL)

Mobile Data Terminal (MDT)

Mobile Access Router (MAR)

Antennas

Emergency Alarm Covet Switch and Microphone

Are all of the above onboard systems integrated with the VLU? Explain those systems that do not integrate with the VLU

0.

Is it the VLU or the MDT that will connect to the farebox via the J1708 cable?

Is the VLU capable of sending an update message to the farebox when there is a change to the block, route, trip, or operator?

Is the VLU able to store farebox alarms received from the farebox?

Is the VLU functionality and external interfaces able to provide location, time, and/or triggering messages to other on-vehicle systems?

0.

Does the system support a VLU interface with the existing destination headsign via a J1708 cable? Would the Contractor be able to install and connect the VLU to the destination headsign, including applying any firmware updates?

Automated Vehicle Location (AVL)

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Is the Contractor able to equip all vehicles with, at a minimum, the following hardware elements?

1. A secondary position system consisting of an odometer interface or other dead-reckoning device;

2. A GPS receiver, installed in the VLU as a replaceable/upgradeable card;

3. An exterior mounted, watertight integrated GPS and WLAN antenna (Note: Buses already have GPS and WLAN antenna that Contractor may use connecting through MGR.);

Is the AVL capable of providing accuracy to within 10 feet of the actual location at least 95% of the time?

Is the AVL designed for operation in downtown urban, suburban, and rural areas, including the ability to continue logical vehicle position tracking when a GPS signal is not available or is degraded including, but is not limited to, environments such as mountainous areas, heavily forested areas, office tower "Urban Canyons", tunnels, multimodal transit centers, garages and transit yards?

Does the system utilize WAAS as the primary source of position calculation?

If n

Mobile Data Terminal (MDT)

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Describe the MDT deployed with the solution. Include functionality, size(s), video graphics resolution, service life

Is the MDT capable of integrating with the following onboard systems? 1)Overhead destination sign2)Farebox3)Emergency Alarm4)CCTV5)AVA6)Drivetrain (via J1708/J1939)

7)APC’s

8)VLU

Does the MDT provide the following functionalities?

1. Ability to be used by operators wearing gloves.

2. Ability to be readable by operators wearing polarized lenses.

3. Readable in direct sunlight and must offer a low-glare setting for night operation.

Does the MDT contain a volume control accessible to operators for audio alerts?

Does the MDT support automated operator logon by swiping or using a proximity card?

Once an Operators logs on to the MDT, is the MDT capable in turn to also log them into all other connected onboard devices as well as the existing destination sign?

Is the MDT able to uniquely alert the operator in the event that a transfer request message is received while the vehicle is above the customizable speed threshold?

Is the MDT capable of displaying all of the measurements in US customary units?

Is the MDT capable of the allowing, at a minimum?

1. Operator logon and logoff;

2. Operator validation for correct vehicle, block, etc.;

3. Voice radio control;

4. Two-way text messaging between the operator and control;

5. Notifications of route and schedule adherence and re-routes;

6. Operator monitoring for connected/integrated onboard devices;

7. The ability to operate and control the internal and external Public Address (PA) systems provided that the PA amplifier has the necessary control inputs.

8. Emergency alarm indications for both alarm activation, covert microphone on, and alarm received.

Does the MDT provide a maintenance function with a real-time interface to all attached discrete signals?

Mobile Access Router (MAR)

number

QUESTION

RESPONSE

Is the Contractor able to provide a MAR supporting both wireless and wired switched Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN) functionality, as well as multiple wireless Wide Area Network (WAN) links and a gateway and a separate device from the VLU and MDT?

Describe the Contractor supplied MAR. Include specifications, functionalities capacities, and limitations.

Is the Contractor supplied MAR a proprietary device?

Will the warranty on the Contractor supplied MAR allow/prohibit opening the MAR?

How difficult will it be to integrate additional devices to the MAR in the future?

Is the Contractor open to using alternate brands of Mobile Access Routers?

Is the MAR capable of supporting the following wireless data services?

1. 3G and 4G wireless WAN communications from common carriers through a compatible cellular modem, to include but not be limited to commercially available Long Term Evolution (LTE) services;

2. Wireless LAN (WLAN) “Wi-Fi” supporting the 802.11n standard for WAN communications

3. Act as a WLAN access point capable of enabling LAN access from public WLAN client devices within the bus interior, supporting the 802.11n WLAN standard and on a separate subnet firewalled from the onboard Ethernet switched LAN.

Is the MAR supplied with separate WLAN cards for the WAN client and LAN access point functions?

Is the MAR capable of integration with onboard CAD/AVL components and other existing onboard Ethernet enabled systems to provide an integrated, multi-path WAN gateway for all onboard systems via connection to the Ethernet switched LAN ports?

Does the MAR and all WLAN communications support Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) security and communications protocols?

Does the MAR support IPsec Virtual Private Network (VPN) services for connections between onboard devices and the WAN across the gateway?

Does the MAR provide Firewall Services capable of configurable firewalling between all LAN ports and WLAN links?

Is the MAR configurable to control which on-board systems and applications can use a given WAN link, based on the connection speed?

Does the MAR have the capability to assign different priority levels to data from individual on-board devices and applications, separately for the ingress interfaces (incoming traffic to LAN connected devices) and the egress interfaces (outgoing traffic to WAN links)?

Does the MAR have the capability to automatically switch WAN traffic between available WAN links according to administrator-defined switching policies? Switching policies shall be based at minimum upon network availability, network priority, time of day, and vehicle location?

Is the VLU able to initiate WLAN batch data processing using the MAR whenever the vehicle is within WLAN coverage of an approved SSID and the scheduled departure from layover is more than five (5) minutes beyond current time?

Destination Headsigns

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

0.

Will the VLU allow operator or controller override of destination sign code, and log such overrides?

Speakers and Text Display Readerboards for AVAOnboard Processing

number

QUESTION

RESPONSE

Will the VLU be able to generate an external audio announcement corresponding to the destination sign when the front door opens?

Onboard Audio

number

QUESTION

RESPONSE

Does the VLU include an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) circuit to automatically and independently adjust internal and external audio volumes depending on their respective ambient noise level detected?

Onboard Visual Readerboard

.

number

QUESTION

RESPONSE

Will AVA be able to display the current VLU time on the readerboard in 12 hour “HH:MM” format?

.

Vehicle Monitoring

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QUESTION

RESPONSE

Is the VLU able to interface with the onboard drivetrain J1708 or J1939 gateway via cables to be installed and connected by the Contractor to the gateway?

When drivetrain J1708 or J1939 is available on a vehicle, is the VLU able to monitor certain drivetrain data elements, at least every two (2) seconds but no more often than every one (1) second, and perform at least the following additional functions?

1. Extend the VLU “Black Box” buffer data being stored to include the following available drivetrain data:

a. Speed, Acceleration, Braking, Transmission Torque, Transmission Gear, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) in use, Traction Control System (TCS) in use, and Air Pressure;

b. AC Transit will provide a list of additional drivetrain parameters to be monitored. This list will be part of the VLU configuration data, and easily modified by the agency.

2. Parameter Threshold Monitoring: AC Transit will provide a list of drivetrain parameters to be monitored, with minimum and maximum thresholds to be logged. This list will be part of the VLU configuration data, and easily configurable by AC Transit. The VLU shall initially log whenever a parameter threshold is exceeded. Subsequent logging will occur whenever a parameter changes by three (3) or more increments of the monitored resolution, until after the parameter is within the acceptable minimum to maximum range.

3. Error Reporting: VLU will monitor the configured drivetrain data elements, and report this data to control when any “Mechanical” message is generated by the operator, whenever the vehicle automatically “de-rates”, or whenever a configurable parameter threshold is exceeded. The monitored data will include at minimum:

a. Every error-code received in the last ten (10) minutes;

b. Current: Engine Temperature, Oil Temperature, Oil Pressure, Transmission Temperature, Transmission Pressure, Air Pressure; and

c. AC Transit will provide a list of drivetrain parameters to be monitored. This list will be part of the VLU configuration data, and easily modified by the agency.

Voice and Data Radios

number

QUESTION

RESPONSE

Describe how the Contractor will implement an interface between the VLU and the voice and data radios.

Is the VLU able to integrate with the voice radio so that the VLU can control the voice radio talkgroup and its connection to the operator handset, speakers, boom microphone and covert microphone?

Is the contractor able to provide the integration between these radios and the VLU in order for the VLU to control the operation of these radios?

Is the VLU able to control all functionality of the radios?

Is the Contractor able to provide voice and data radio integration between the proposed CAD/AVL system and the data/voice systems as listed below and incorporating the specifications listed below?

1. Dispatch operators must have the ability to select talkgroups for mobile voice radios/vehicles with VLUs (talkgroup lists will have more detailed description of the talkgroup’s purpose will appear when the cursor hovers over the talkgroup name);

2. Supervisor radios must be able to monitor/scan all bus communications

Digital Video Recorder (DVR)

number

QUESTION

RESPONSE

Is the DVR able to interface with the VLU via both devices being connected to the MAR via Ethernet?

Is the DVR able to receive from the VLU GPS location and time/date information, for recording with video date?

Is the VLU able to store DVR alarms and service status received from the DVR?

Is he VLU able to provide a discrete video ‘tagging’ signal to the DVR when a PRTT or emergency alarm is generated by the operator?

Automatic Passenger Counters

number

QUESTION

RESPONSE

Is the Contractor able to integrate the existing onboard APC equipment with the MAR via Ethernet to enable the existing APC central software to complete bulk data uploads of APC data from the existing APC equipment via the garage WLAN?

Transit Signal Priority

number

QUESTION

RESPONSE

Is the Contractor capable of installing the interface between the VLU and the TSP emitter via a J1708 cable or Ethernet including firmware or updates needed to the TSP emitter?

Is the VLU able to activate and deactivate a third party TSP emitter device using a J1708 connection?

Is the VLU able to activate and deactivate the TSP emitter based on schedule or headway adherence, on a command from the central systems, or by pre-defined trigger points set in the GIS data?

Is the VLU able to log all TSP emitter activations/deactivations on-board the vehicle, including data, time, GPS location, route, vehicle ID, and direction? These logs shall be available either through a system reporting function or through the WLAN communications with the vehicle?

Does the system allow a valid TSP polygon area to be defined, updated, and downloaded to each vehicle VLU through the WLAN?

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