METRO Dispatch Equipment Packages

 

The following equipment packages are associated with the "METRO Dispatch" element.   Select the "Details" icon to see the detailed process specifications that support each equipment package, or consult the National ITS Architecture web site for more information.

 

Transit Center Fare and Load Management

This Equipment package provides the capability to accept collected data required to determine accurate ridership levels and implement variable and flexible fare structures. Support shall be provided for the traveler for use of a fare medium for all applicable surface transportation services, to pay without stopping, have payment media automatically identified as void and/or invalid and eligibility verified, and allow for third party payment. In addition, capability to provide expansion into other uses for payment medium such as retail and telephone and for off-line billing for fares paid by agencies shall be supported. This Equipment package also supports the capability for two-way voice communication between the transit vehicle driver and a facility, two-way data communication between the transit vehicles and a facility, sensor data to be transmitted from the transit vehicles to a facility, and data transmission from individual facilities to a central facility for processing/analysis if desired. These capabilities shall be provided through a workstation type processor with GUI, high capacity storage, ride share software housed in a building with dialup lines and wireline telephone and require integration with an existing Transit Center Tracking and Dispatch Equipment package.

 

Transit Center Fixed-Route Operations

This Equipment package enhances the planning and scheduling associated with fixed route transit services. The package allows fixed-route services to develop, print and disseminate schedules and automatically updates customer service operator systems with the most current schedule information. Current vehicle schedule adherence and optimum scenarios for schedule adjustment shall also be provided.

 

Transit Center Information Services

This equipment package collects the latest available information for a transit service and makes it available to transit customers and to Information Service Providers for further distribution. Customers are provided information at transit stops and other public transportation areas before they embark and on-board the transit vehicle once they are enroute. Information provided can include the latest available information on transit routes, schedules, transfer options, fares, real-time schedule adherence, current incidents, weather conditions, and special events. In addition to general service information, tailored information (e.g, itineraries) are provided to individual transit users.

 

Transit Center Multi-Modal Coordination

This Equipment package provides the transit management subsystem the capability to determine the need for transit priority on routes and at certain intersections and request transit vehicle priority at these locations. It also supports schedule coordination between transit properties and coordinates with other surface and air transportation modes.

 

Transit Center Paratransit Operations

This Equipment package provides the capability to automate the planning and scheduling, allowing improvements in paratransit routes and services to develop, printing and disseminating schedules, and automatically updating customer service operator systems with the most current schedule. In addition, this Equipment package provides the capability to assign drivers to routes in a fair manner while minimizing labor and overtime services, including driver preferences and qualifications, and automatically tracking and validating the number of work hours performed by each individual driver. These capabilities shall be provided through the utilization of dispatch and fleet management software running on a workstation type processor.

 

Transit Center Security

This Equipment package provides the capability to monitor key transit locations and transit vehicles with both video and audio systems automatically alerting operators and police of potential incidents and supporting traveler activated alarms. The monitoring equipment shall also include capabilities to assist in responding to terrorist incidents.

 

Transit Center Tracking and Dispatch

This Equipment package provides the capabilities for monitoring transit vehicle locations and determining vehicle schedule adherence. The Equipment package shall also furnish users with real-time travel related information, continuously updated with real-time information from each transit system within the local area of jurisdiction, inclusive of all transportation modes, from all providers of transportation services, and provide users with the latest available information on transit routes, schedules, transfer options, fares, real-time schedule adherence, current incidents conditions, weather conditions, and special events. This Equipment package also supports the capability for two-way voice communication between the transit vehicle driver and a facility, two-way data communication between the transit vehicles and a facility.

 

Transit Environmental Monitoring

This equipment package assimilates current and forecast road conditions and surface weather information from a variety of sources, including both weather service providers and vehicle probes. The collected environmental information is monitored and presented to the operator. This information can be used to more effectively manage transit operations.

 

Transit Garage Maintenance

This Equipment package provides advanced maintenance functions for the transit property. It collects operational and maintenance data from transit vehicles, manages vehicle service histories, and monitors drivers and vehicles. It collects vehicle mileage data and uses it to automatically generate preventative maintenance schedules for each vehicle by utilizing vehicle tracking data from a prerequisite vehicle tracking equipment package. In addition, it provides information to proper service personnel to support maintenance activities and records and verifies that maintenance work was performed. This equipment package receives special events and real-time incident data from the traffic management subsystem and assigns operators to vehicles and transit routes. Garage maintenance also receives information about incidents involving transit vehicles from the TMC in order to dispatch tow trucks and other repair vehicles.

 

Transit Garage Operations

This Equipment package automates and supports the assignment of transit vehicles and drivers to enhance the daily operation of a transit service. It provides the capability to assign drivers to routes or service areas in a fair manner while minimizing labor and overtime services, considering driver preferences and qualifications, and automatically tracking and validating the number of work hours performed by each individual driver.