Transit Traveler Information CEE582

Fixed-Route Central ControlCustomer Information Wireless Data On-Off Load Data Radio/ Message and AVL Transmission Digital Video Central Computer-Aided Dispatch and Vehicle Tracking Fixed-Route Fare Structure, Routes and Schedules Internet-Based Fixed-Route Service Status Dynamic Bus Stop Sign Multi-Modal Interactive Voice Response Phone System Vehicle Performance Data Route Performance Data Fixed-Route Revenue Data Invalid Fare Cards Internet-Based Trip Planning CEE582 Next Stop Announcements Next Stop Displays GPS Receiver On-Board Automatic Vehicle Location and Mobile Processing

Goals Attract new riders –make transit a reasonable alternative Retain riders –make transit worth the trouble Increase political support –stay in business CEE582

Barriers to Using Transit Lack of –Convenience –Safety & security –Reliability & dependability Actual and perceived CEE582

Tough Product to Market Can I get there by bus? When and where do I catch the bus? Did I miss the bus? Is it coming at all? I need correct change? I have to transfer? Where are we anyway? CEE582

APTS

Technology Enables Change Operations Focus Customer Focus CEE582

Traveler Information Services Pre-trip –Timetables and maps –Interactive route finding –Trip planning –Current status of service En-Route –Next stop –Expected bus arrival time at transfer centers CEE582

Traveler Information Technologies Multi-modal web-based traveler information portal –PCs –Kiosks Web-based transit maps and schedules –PCs –Kiosks Web-based transit trip planning –PCs –Kiosks CEE582

More Traveler Information Technologies Web-based “real-time” information – current status of service –PCs –Mobile devices (PDAs. Cell phones) –Kiosks –Interactive voice response Electronic signs at bus stops, transit centers Electronic signs on-board CEE582

Timetables, Maps and Interactive Route Finding Electronic copies of timetables Route finding –Selected origins and destinations –Neighborhood level Multi-modal connections CEE582

Trip Planning User input of origin, destination and time of travel Result includes: –Routes, stops, boarding times, transfer locations –Walking route to bus stop and final destination –Fare Regional Intercity, statewide, multi-state CEE582

CEE582

Current Status of Service “Real-time” information or “Next Bus” information –Current location –Current schedule adherence status –Predicted schedule adherence status –Predicted arrival time or minutes until arrival CEE582

Arrival Predictions Based on: –Current schedule deviation (at previous time point) –Predicted travel time from current location to next time point –Historical information versus modeled performance CEE582

On-Board “Next Stop” On-board database –Route –Stop sequence –Scheduled times Current location (AVL) On-board processing of actual vs. scheduled location to confirm current service CEE582

On-Time Performance CEE582

“I feel safe at this bus stop at night.” CEE582

Overall Satisfaction with Service CEE582

Transit Traveler Information Implementation Issues Major schedule changes at least 3 times/year –Minor changes every day to every 2 weeks How best to communicate current service status information Accessibility (ADA) Vandalism Environment Communications requirements CEE582

More Implementation Issues When is a bus “late?” What if a bus is early? Just because it was late there doesn’t mean it will be late here What if the prediction is wrong? (public trust in the information) Funding constraints -- Is giving riders information more important than giving them more service? CEE582