1. Avoiding Stories Like “The Secret Life of Lemmings” by Hugo First MSTPA Conference Tuscaloosa, AL March 8 – 10, 2010

2. What’s Important about Transportation Technology? What technologies will meet operational challenges and answer questions? Avoiding the feature buzz – focus on the steak not the sizzle. Marketing and communicating technology benefits to passengers.

3. WIFFM – Transit Technology Objectives, Objectives, Objectives Key Components of Transit Technology Suites Creating Need To Have Vs Nice To Have Checklist RFP and Selection Process

4. Focus on Objectives – Not Features Problem to Solve? Focus on main issue. Willingness to Pay? Budget and desire to fund. Perfect Destroy the Good? Determine the minimum requirements for success and increase from there. Alternative Approaches There is more than one way to get from point A to B.

5. Transit Technology Suite GPS Routing & Dispatch GPS/AVL Tracking Digital Destination Signs Passenger Counting Rolling Internet On Board Video Announcement Systems Electronic Inspection

6. GPS/AVL Tracking – The Grandaddy of Transit Technology Everything Begins with Vehicle Location and Movement Tracking Routes, idling, delays, speed, time between stops. Location of events from complementary systems. ComponentDecision Data Frequency How often the system reports location (cost Vs. information) Reporting Capabilities How much information is needed and what will it be used for? Specific reports like frequency, average speed, bus stop times Management or Passengers Transit visualization for passengers most important or management tracking and control Compatibility How well will it integrate with other systems? Required Options Cell phone access, routing optimization, driver input, panic buttons, public viewer, etc.

7. Technology Checklist PriorityTechnologyDecision Points Rolling Internet>Length of trips >Makeup of passenger community – will it be used? Digital Destination Signs >How often buses change routes >Experience of passengers >Number and complexity of routes at institution Passenger Intelligence (Counting) >Count only number of people on buses by time, route, stop >Need to know affiliation or origination of passengers >Passenger validation for security and/or access control >System size, number of buses, information retrieval requirements On Board Video>Security and liability issues, history of transportation system >High number of unaffiliated or general public passengers >Used as a training or counseling tool for drivers Announcement Systems >Complexity of routes >Passenger profile – infrequent or incidental users of the system >Automated announcements Vs internal display signs Electronic Inspection >Medium to large fleets, multiple storage locations >Need to verify pre and post trip inspections for liability and performance management

8. Technology Selection RFP Design Straightforward requirements Allow for reasonable alternatives Focus on objectives not strict interpretation Avoid getting stung by the Feature Buzz Stick to important aspects Ignore unnecessary and expensive compatibility and modularity Inspect & Validate Responses Don’t get a camel when you ask for an automobile…

9. Marketing Transportation Technology Find Reasons To Explain All Technology Video (Safety, Training) GPS Tracking(Safety, Convenience) Passenger Counting Use the Tool Itself Wherever Possible Demonstrations Trial Runs/Participate in Purchasing Provide Reason for Passengers to Use It Registration in system that provides further information Contests Create Ambassadors Student Government Special Interest Groups Passengers Integrate with Passenger Interests Clubs, classes, hobbies. Internships Public Relations Press Releases Articles White Papers Use Everything Repetition Email, Website, Posters, Text Messaging, Twitter, Facebook

10. How Many Jellybeans are In This Bus?

11. Questions?Answers! Transit Technology Gets Me Rolling… Contact Me Any Time… Mitch Skyer Solstice Transportation Group 678-474-9355 Mitch@SolsticeTRG.com www.SolsticeTransportationGroup.com