technology workshop slides · suzie edrington, texas transportation institute lisa cortinas, golden...

Technology Workshop

Lesson 1Introduction and Overview

Carol A. LEWIS, Ph.D. Director, Center for Transportation Training & Research

Associate Professor, Texas Southern University

ExpectationsExpectationsExpectationsExpectations

What do you hope to gain from this

course?

ExpectationsExpectationsExpectationsExpectations

That attendees would gain knowledge about making technology decisions …

� Improve effectiveness of transportation service

� Increase efficiencies in operations

� Enhance customer satisfaction

� Encourage and facilitate coordination

SpecificallySpecificallySpecificallySpecifically

� Gain or Expand Knowledge about Applicable Technologies

� Assess Your Transit System; Imagine the Role New Technologies Might Have

� Consider Short and Long Term Future Role of New Technologies

� Understand Acquisition and Maintenance Costs of New Technologies

Technology Workshop

Lesson 2Technology Applications

Jeff Arndt, Texas Transportation Institute

California

Dreaming

Were you there when the

FUTUREFUTUREFUTUREFUTUREarrived?

The Dog or the

Tail?

Issue 1:

Disruption

Issue 2: The “Five

Minute” Quandry

METROLift

• ADA Paratransit

• About 100 vans (early 1990’s)

Transit Goals

• Reliable, safe, comfortable service

• Customer-friendly and simple

• Efficiency

• Effectiveness

Reliable Service

• On-time

• No disruption

“Before” Reliability

Check

Guideposts

Global Positioning

System (GPS)

• Uses constellation of

32 Medium Earth Orbit

satellites.

• Require 4 be visible for readings

• Other systems in implementation:

– GLONASS (Russia)

– Galileo (Europe)

– COMPASS (China)

– IRNSS (India)

Satellite

Visibility

Automatic Vehicle

Location: Technology

Cornerstone

• Provides locational information

– Schedule adherence

– Activate priority signal treatment

– Locate passenger ons and offs

– Research operating questions

– Research running time

– Find bus in “distress”

The AVL Surprise

80%

60%

Dispatch & AVL

• Real time response focused on major exceptions

• Can “playback”

actual service for

research

Scheduling Data

Source: TCRP Report 126

Signal Priority

• Emergency vehicles preempt the signal

• Non-emergency vehicles receive signal priority

– Extending green cycle

– Shorten red cycle

– Recovery cycle impacts

Selective Priority

Adjusts signal timing only when trip is running more

than pre-selected amount of time late

Supportive

Operating Strategies

• Bus stop placement

• Service design

– Limited stop services

– Bus Rapid Transit

Vehicle

Maintenance

Safety

• Personal safety (security)

• Operational safety

Silent Alarm

Enhancements

• Step One: Reactive

– AVL-assisted location

– Transmission to multiple consoles

– Open microphone

– Destination sign

Video

Surveillance

• On-vehicle, with DVR

• At facilities, broadcasting

Comfortable

• Information

• Capacity

• Value-added

Real-time

Information

• AVL system is again foundational

• Delivery systems

– Information kiosks

– Internet

– E-mail

– PDA

Handling

Capacity

• Automatic passenger counters

• Link to vehicle location

Which Works?

OR….

Annunciation

•External announcement of next bus(es) arrival

•External announcement of route/branch

•Internal announcement of next stop

•Internal display of next stop

Passenger -Friendly

Interfaces

• Getting introduction to system

• Planning trips on system

• Improving feedback to demand-response patrons

• Fare technology

Trip Planners

• Web-based

• Google system

• Interactive voice response (IVR)

Paratransit

Fare Technology

• Smart Card

Interoperability

Performance

Management

Benefits

• You are either serving the customer OR serving someone who is

• What’s good for the customer is good for the business

Efficiency

• Matching service supply and demand

• Capital investment to save long-term operating dollars

Assisting

Dispatch

Bottom Line

• Technology supports

– Improved service quality

– Increases service efficiency

– Simplified access to information

– Customized customer feedback

Lesson 3

Identify Transit

System Needs

Suzie Edrington, Texas Transportation Institute

Lisa Cortinas, Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission

Identify Needs

Three Steps:

1. Assess the existing system

2. Predict future needs

3. Analyze current business processes

FTA, “A Guidebook for Planning APTS/ITS Applications for Rural Transit Systems”

GCRPC Case

Study

Step 1: Assess

Existing System

Assess strengths and

weaknesses of the

current operation

Document goals and

objectives

Identify technology that may

help to accomplish goals and

objectives

STEP 1

Step 1: Assess

Existing System

Assess strengths and

weaknesses of the

current operation

STEP 1

GCRPC Case

Study

Step 1: Assess Existing

System

Victoria Dewitt GonzalesGoliad Calhoun Lavaca JacksonMatagorda

GCRPC Gonzales

SCA

Goliad

County

Calhoun

SCA

Lavaca

CountyFriends of Elder Citizens

Fleet Fleet FleetFleet Fleet Fleet

Step 1A. Assess Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Automated routing and scheduling system

• Dispatchers know many of the patrons because locally dispatched

• Good relationship and communication with service providers

• Service providers all provide same types of service – understanding requirements

• Fleet insured under one umbrella for entire region

Weaknesses:

• Rural vehicles sitting idle waiting for passengers – long distance trips

• Service providers use different types of communication systems and internet providers

• Some overlap of service – trips to same destination

• Each subcontractor continues to do their own call taking, scheduling, and dispatching manually

• Each service provider schedules and dispatches services independently – no cross-utilization of fleets, trips cannot be grouped, vehicles less productive

Step 1A. Assess Strengths and Weaknesses


System

Step 1: Assess

Existing System

Document goals and

objectives

STEP 1B

GCRPC – Regional Goals:

• Improve delivery of transportation services,

• Generate efficiencies in operation,

• Enhance customer service satisfaction, and

• Encourage cooperation and coordination

Step 1B. Document goals and objectives


System

GCRPC – Regional Objectives:

• Eliminate gaps in services,

• Increase staff efficiency in reporting of data,

• Efficient utilization of staff and vehicle resources,

• Develop strategies to provide for increased accessibility to transit information.

Step 1B. Document goals and objectives


System

Step 1: Assess

Existing System

Identify technology that may

help to accomplish goals and

objectives

STEP 1C

Step 1C. Identify technology to accomplish goals and

objectives

GCPRC used the following best practices to learn about transit technologies:

•Visit other transit systems

•Attend conferences

•Develop a relationship with local educational institutions

•Educate staff about technology through training

•Know stakeholders and look at the possibilities

•Hold a workshop


System

Step 1C. Identify technology to accomplish goals and

objectives

GCRPC Workshop

What was learned:•Wireless communications systems will allow the

agency to consolidate dispatch into one facility

•Centralization will allow use of scheduling software

more efficiently and to store customer information in one database.

•Three options available to GCRPC


System

Option 1


SystemGCRPC – Identify technology to accomplish goals and

objectives

Victoria Dewitt GonzalesGoliad Calhoun Lavaca JacksonMatagorda

GCRPC Gonzales

SCA

Goliad

County

Calhoun

SCA

Lavaca

CountyFriends of Elder Citizens

Fleet Fleet FleetFleet Fleet Fleet

Calhoun Dewitt GonzalesGoliad Jackson Lavaca VictoriaMatagorda

Central Scheduling

and Dispatch

Fleet

Reservation Reservation ReservationReservation Reservation Reservation ReservationReservation

Option 2


SystemGCRPC – Identify technology to accomplish goals and

objectives

Option 3

Calhoun Dewitt GonzalesGoliad Jackson Lavaca VictoriaMatagorda

Central Reservations,

Scheduling and Dispatch

Fleet


SystemStep 1C. Identify technology to accomplish goals and

objectives

Step 2: Predict

Future Needs

Consider how the transit

system might change or

expand

Relate future plans to

goals and objectives

Consider how different

technology application now can

help to accomplish future plans

STEP 2

Step 2: Predict

Future Needs

Consider how the transit

system might change or

expand

STEP 2A

Step 2.A Consider How Transit

System Might Change

GCRPC future changes:

• Expansions to major employers such as the So

Tx Nuclear Power Plant in Matagorda County.

Expansion of employee shuttles to and from

plant

• University system change from a 2 year

university to a 4 year, creating opportunities for increasing student transportation.

Step 2: Predict Future Needs

Step 2: Predict Future NeedsStep 2A. Consider how system might change or

expand

GCRPC:

Pilot Project – Goliad County

GCRPC based on feedback and needs of Goliad County Option 3 – Centralized Reservations, Scheduling and Dispatching would be implemented

Step 2: Predict

Future Needs

Relate future plans to


STEP 2B

Step 2.B Relate future plans to


GCRPC future plans: • Based on pilot project – centralize dispatch function

• Expand to new employment centers

• Serve growing student population

GCRPC Objectives:• Eliminate gaps in services

• Increase staff efficiency in reporting of data

• Efficient utilization of staff and vehicle resources• Develop strategies to provide for increased accessibility

to transit information.


Step 2: Predict

Future Needs

Consider how different



STEP 2C

Step 2.C Consider how different



GCRPC future plans:

• Based on pilot project – centralize dispatch function

• Expand to new employment centers

• Serve growing student population

Technology considerations for future:

• Scheduling software expansion, upgrades

• Web based scheduling


Step 3: Analyze Business Processes

STEP 3

Evaluate business

processes

Identify time-consuming

and/or costly tasks.

Consider technology applications

to improve the identified

processes

cost / benefit


STEP 3A

Evaluate business

processes

Step 3: Analyze Business

ProcessesStep 3A. Evaluate Business Processes

GCRPC -Central dispatch business processes:

•Telephone reservations system

•Scheduling system

•Routing trips

•Preparing and distributing driver manifests

•Communicating with drivers

•Collecting and reporting data

•Reporting performance

•Handling customer requests


STEP 3B

Identify time-consuming

and/or costly tasks.


ProcessesStep 3B. Identify time-consuming and/or costly

tasks

GCRPC identified –

•Improvement needed in call management

•Routing can be more effective and efficient across region

•Data is not centralized therefore collection and distribution of data is cumbersome

Step 3: Analyze

Business Processes

STEP 3C

Consider technology applications

to improve the identified

processes -

cost / benefit


ProcessesStep 3C. Consider technology

applications to improve business

processes

GCRPC technology considerations:

•Reporting enhancements in scheduling software

•GIS mapping requirements

•Telephone capacity

•Integrating multiple communication systems

•Mobile data computers

•Web system possibilities

Lessons Learned

GCRPC:

• Technology changes fast

• Perform a comprehensive communications/radio analysis.

• Web-based solutions may be appropriate

• Learn from the experiences of other systems of similar size and complexity

Lesson 3:

Identify Needs

Three Steps:

1. Assess the existing system

2. Predict future needs

3. Analyze current business processes

FTA, “A Guidebook for Planning APTS/ITS Applications for Rural Transit Systems”

Lesson 4

Cost Factors

And Funding

Carol Lewis, Ph.D., Texas Southern University

Laura Higgins, Texas Transportation Institute

Review of Day 1

� Gain or Expand Knowledge about Applicable Technologies

� Assess Your Transit System; Imagine the Role New Technologies Might Have

� Consider Short and Long Term Future Role of New Technologies

Learning

Objectives

• Predict future technology needs

• Assess the implications of new technology on the future operation

• Consider organizational structures

• Understand cost factors and possible financial resources

• Short-term and long-term goals– Future clients– Future service area

– Future partnerships

• Potential resources needed– More vehicles– More workstations

– More office locations– More partners

TransitTransitTransitTransit System, System, System, System,

Now and LaterNow and LaterNow and LaterNow and Later

Imagine the

Future

Source: http://www.easttransit.com/products/srtracker.html

Envision: Your

Trip in 2020

� What’s different in the geographic coverage area?

� Think about characteristics of the population – age, incomes, other traits that influence usage.

� Pretend you’re going to make a trip on your system.• How did you get information?

• Did you transfer; at what type of facility?

Some

Technology

Options

Accounting Software Demand Responsive

Automatic Passenger Counters

Routing and Scheduling Software

Vehicle Locators GIS

Communications ElecInternetMobile Data

Personnel Management Traveler Information Signal Preemption/Priority

Your Future Trip

� Was your trip seamless?

� Were all vehicles well maintained?

� Were routes and schedules optimized for

efficiency?

� Were ridership and cost data available and performance measures monitored?

From your vantage point as an operator, what technologies are needed to

ensure your dream trip happens?

Business

Structures

� How would organizational or business structures change or improve with new technology applications ?

� What in your operation takes too long? Could technology help here? Are there processes that could be streamlined?

� How could the organizational structure be improved with technology applications?

Describe Your

Area in 2020

� What’s different in the geographic coverage area?

� Think about characteristics of the population – age, incomes, other traits that influence usage.

� Pretend you’re going to make a trip on your system.• How did you get information?

• Did you transfer; at what type of facility?

How much will

it cost?

• What do you want it to do?

• How big is your transit system?

• What is in place already?

Purchase Costs

• Per license?

• Per workstation?

• Per vehicle?

• Per county?

Staff Time Costs

• Procurement

• Training

• Data entry

• Ongoing operation

Additional Costs

• Maintenance and tech support

• Communications fees

• Future upgrades and expansions

Funding Sources

• Federal and state

– Capital grants

– Demonstration grants

– CMAQ funds

• Local and private sector

– Municipalities

– Stakeholders (agencies, businesses)

Leveraging

Resources

• Group/regional procurement

• Partnering on grant applications

• Sharing facilities, services, staff

Cost Factors and

Funding

• Predict future technology needs

• Assess the implications of new technology on the future operation

• Consider organizational structures

• Understand cost factors and possible financial resources

Lesson 5Overcoming Barriers to

Installation and

Implementation of

Technology

technology workshop slides · suzie edrington, texas transportation institute lisa cortinas, golden...

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