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Vancouver Area Smart Trek
Initiative 7
Transit Operations and Management
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Based on stakeholder input and current industry trends, the VAST Program Stakeholders included the need for Advanced Public Transportation System (APTS) components as part of the VAST program. APTS technologies address two major aspects of transit operations:
- transit traveler information systems and
- transit agency operations and management.
As with ATIS technology focused on the automobile driver, APTS traveler information technologies provide public transportation riders with information needs to make appropriate travel choices. Advances in vehicle location technologies and data communications permit the delivery of real-time bus location information to transit users via a number of modes including: bus stop signs; the Internet; freeway changeable message signs (CMS); personal communications devices; and kiosks. Most of these modes also provide information to automobile users and transit information should be integrated with traffic information.
Transit operation and management tools also benefit from technological advances and help transit providers increase efficiency and improve quality of service provided to the public. Automation and integration lead to improvements in transit service planning, emergency situation handling, operations monitoring, and vehicle maintenance record keeping.
Needs
Based on input from stakeholders and through workshops, the following transit needs have been identified:
- Monitor C-TRAN buses in real-time
- Provide transit arrival/departure information on the Internet
- Provide real-time transit information at transit stops and on-board transit vehicles
- Improve management of transit vehicle maintenance
- Share traveler information with other regional agencies
- Recommend an optimum route per travelers request
- Provide automated fare collection
- Provide additional security at transit stops and in vehicles
Criteria
The following list presents measures that can be used to evaluate transit management and operations projects. The list includes both qualitative and quantifiable measures. Evaluations of performance need not quantify every measure in this list.
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- Integration with other regional transportation system
- Increased transit ridership
- Transfer time
- Provide real-time data
- Time to board coaches
- Number of security incidents
- Time between incident and notification
- Time between notification and response
- Individual travel time
- Individual travel time variability
- Maintenance cost savings
- Quantity and quality of planning data
- Dynamic reassignment of transit vehicles
Strategies
- Install Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) equipment on each bus to provide inputs into operations and traveler information systems.
- AVL equipment is required for most of the APTS technologies. Tracking vehicles in real-time provides data for computer aided dispatch (CAD) systems, schedule adherence monitoring applications and transit traveler information systems.
- Provide transit traveler information on the Internet.
- The Internet has become a widely used source of up to the minute information. In addition to providing schedules and trip planning assistance, web sites can provide current system status highlighting bus arrival information. The C-TRAN web site should display the current transit traveler information based on AVL data. This information would then be available to travelers at their place of employment, individuals leaving their homes and public displays including information kiosks. WSDOT, City of Vancouver and other web sites should all be linked in a manner to provide current transportation options to all travelers seeking information.
- Provide transit traveler information at key bus stops.
- Bus arrival information is of great value to transit users waiting for a bus. A visual and/or audible presentation of schedule status informs the rider whether or not he/she has missed a bus, has only a few minutes to wait or has an extensive wait ahead. This information gives the passenger options and will help attract and maintain ridership.
- Install automated fleet maintenance management system.
- Advanced computer applications allow a transit agency to improve efficiencies at its maintenance facilities. Vehicle maintenance records, inventory levels, part procurement status and costs levels can all be maintained on an integrated system. The addition of sensors on buses permits the automatic acquisition of odometer readings, fluid levels, engine status etc. by the maintenance facility in order to improve preventative maintenance and record keeping.
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- Integrate transit operations system with regional traffic management systems.
- Dispatch systems provide the greatest benefits when all traffic and road construction conditions are available for analysis along with transit system status. Video from traffic cameras and congestion maps should be displayed at transit operations centers.
- Integrate paratransit service dispatch with fixed-route service dispatch
- In addition to equipping fixed-route vehicles with AVL equipment, C-TRAN should provide its paratransit vehicle with the technology. Dynamic rerouting of vehicles using automatic vehicle location information and computer aided dispatch (CAD) is of great value on demand-responsive services. CAD systems help allocate the best routes and use of the most appropriate vehicle based on current vehicle locations, traffic conditions and road construction information.
- Install automated passenger counters on all vehicles to provide continual ridership data for planning.
- Automatic passenger counters greatly increase the quantity and quality of data available to transit planners. The allocation of system resources are best done when a transit agency has a thorough understanding of current operation.
- Provide transit traveler information to mobile devices including pagers and hand held PC’s.
- Advances in communications technologies has increased the type and quantity of information available to travelers’ personal communication devices. Transit system status can be delivered to pagers, cell phones and hand-held computers.
- Install automated fare collection system.
- Starting with selected routes where passenger boarding causes (is likely to cause) delays, C-TRAN should install automated fare collection equipment. Advanced fare collection systems both speed up passenger boarding and reduce the costs of handling manual fare instruments.