U.S. DOT T3 WebinarU.S. DOT T3 WebinarMobile Device Mobile Device Technology Technology

TCRP Synthesis 91TCRP Synthesis 91April 10, 2012April 10, 2012

Case StudyCase StudyLeeTran – Lee County, FLLeeTran – Lee County, FL

Mike Horsting, AICPMike Horsting, AICP

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Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline►Lee County BackgroundLee County Background►Situation and NeedSituation and Need► Identified SolutionIdentified Solution►Technology Procurement and Technology Procurement and

InstallationInstallation►Trouble-shootingTrouble-shooting►Results and BenefitsResults and Benefits

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Who is LeeTran?Who is LeeTran?►Lee County Transit – Fort Myers, FLLee County Transit – Fort Myers, FL►County-wide bus route networkCounty-wide bus route network►18 bus routes18 bus routes►Bus fleet of 61Bus fleet of 61►3.1 million annual passenger trips3.1 million annual passenger trips►Traditional transit rider and touristsTraditional transit rider and tourists

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Where is Lee County?Where is Lee County?

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Fort Myers Beach Fort Myers Beach Dreaming…Dreaming…

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Fort Myers Beach Reality…Fort Myers Beach Reality…

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StakeholdersStakeholders► Town of Fort Myers BeachTown of Fort Myers Beach

► Lee County TransitLee County Transit

► Lee County Department of Lee County Department of TransportationTransportation

► State of Florida Department State of Florida Department of Transportationof Transportation

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Identifying the ProblemIdentifying the Problem►Tourism DestinationTourism Destination

Great beaches and warm, sunny wintersGreat beaches and warm, sunny winters► Island Community with Limited AccessIsland Community with Limited Access►Significant to Severe CongestionSignificant to Severe Congestion►Limited Parking Limited Parking ►Driver BehaviorDriver Behavior►Limited TransitLimited Transit

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Identifying the NeedsIdentifying the Needs►Additional Passenger InformationAdditional Passenger Information

Number one passenger requestNumber one passenger request Reduce the guessing Reduce the guessing (When will the trolley be here?)(When will the trolley be here?)

►Manage CongestionManage Congestion►Give Transit the AdvantageGive Transit the Advantage►Reduce Road-RageReduce Road-Rage

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Packaging a SolutionPackaging a Solution► Intelligent Transportation SystemsIntelligent Transportation Systems

Real-Time Passenger InformationReal-Time Passenger Information First at stops, then mobile devicesFirst at stops, then mobile devices

► Increase Capacity by Reducing Increase Capacity by Reducing HeadwaysHeadways

►Dedicated Transit Lane over BridgeDedicated Transit Lane over Bridge►Free ParkingFree Parking►Marketing CampaignMarketing Campaign►Luggage / Gear RacksLuggage / Gear Racks

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ITS RequirementsITS Requirements►Web-based and Cost effective solutionWeb-based and Cost effective solution►Real-Time Information must be:Real-Time Information must be:

80% accuracy for 10 minute predictions80% accuracy for 10 minute predictions 90% accuracy for 5 minute predictions90% accuracy for 5 minute predictions

►Vendor support for changes and upgradesVendor support for changes and upgrades►LED displays at four key stop locationsLED displays at four key stop locations►Expandable to other routes, vehicles and Expandable to other routes, vehicles and

information mediumsinformation mediums11

Solution Procurement Solution Procurement ►Solicitation - RFPSolicitation - RFP►Evaluation Criteria:Evaluation Criteria:

StabilityStability Recent ExperienceRecent Experience ReferencesReferences Technical ProposalTechnical Proposal Software RequirementsSoftware Requirements PricePrice

► Initial 5 year contract with vendorInitial 5 year contract with vendor12

Functional DiagramFunctional Diagram

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Installation and TestingInstallation and Testing► Vehicle InstallationVehicle Installation► LED Displays at StationsLED Displays at Stations

Power SourcesPower Sources► Initial learning period 1-2 monthsInitial learning period 1-2 months

Off-season time periodOff-season time period Quick accuracyQuick accuracy One routeOne route

► Test Launch and Test Launch and MonitorMonitor

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Initial Information SourcesInitial Information Sources►LED DisplaysLED Displays

Arrivals and Current TimeArrivals and Current Time

► InternetInternet Arrivals and Interactive MapArrivals and Interactive Map

►SMS (phase II)SMS (phase II) Text Text

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DeploymentDeployment►TrainingTraining

Dispatchers and SupervisorsDispatchers and Supervisors OperatorsOperators

►Marketing and AdvertisingMarketing and Advertising Brochures Brochures Variable Message BoardsVariable Message Boards

►Monitoring into Winter SeasonMonitoring into Winter Season Field ObservationsField Observations

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RealityReality►Seasonal Congestion too SevereSeasonal Congestion too Severe►Software MiscalculationsSoftware Miscalculations►Vehicles “Dropping-out”Vehicles “Dropping-out”► Inaccurate PredictionsInaccurate Predictions►Operational FrustrationsOperational Frustrations►Solar-powered SignsSolar-powered Signs

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Fixing RealityFixing Reality►Schedule-based PredictionsSchedule-based Predictions

►Headway-based PredictionsHeadway-based Predictions ““Loop Jobs”Loop Jobs”

►Accuracy AchievedAccuracy Achieved

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ExpansionExpansion►Added Information via Mobile DeviceAdded Information via Mobile Device►Two additional routesTwo additional routes

Entire beach zoneEntire beach zone►Entire dedicated fleet installationEntire dedicated fleet installation►All stopsAll stops

Stop ID numbersStop ID numbers

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Pushback/ResultsPushback/Results►““Our customers don’t use smart Our customers don’t use smart

phones”phones”

►SMS Text messagingSMS Text messaging►WebsiteWebsite►SmartphoneSmartphone►AlertsAlerts

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Overall ImprovementsOverall Improvements► Improved Customer SatisfactionImproved Customer Satisfaction

No more guessing at 4 major stopsNo more guessing at 4 major stops►Business Owner SatisfactionBusiness Owner Satisfaction

Customer informationCustomer information Extra businessExtra business

►Accurate Real-time Information Accurate Real-time Information ►Positive customer feedbackPositive customer feedback►Ridership increase of 32%Ridership increase of 32%

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Additional BenefitsAdditional Benefits►DispatchDispatch

Vehicle location monitoringVehicle location monitoring On-time performanceOn-time performance

►Additional Customer InformationAdditional Customer Information Service Advisories and DelaysService Advisories and Delays Planned service changesPlanned service changes

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Cost, Time, Staffing, Cost, Time, Staffing, BudgetingBudgeting

► Initial procurement of $60,000Initial procurement of $60,000 HardwareHardware InstallationInstallation First year operating costsFirst year operating costs

►Annual operating costs of $12,000Annual operating costs of $12,000►Lowered wireless costs after 5 yearsLowered wireless costs after 5 years►TIME! TIME!

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Thank You!Thank You!Mike Horsting, AICPMike Horsting, AICP

horstingm@rtachicago.orghorstingm@rtachicago.org

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