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Transit Center Paratransit Operations Equipment Package

Architecture Geographic Scope

Description:

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.

 

Included in:

SHARP Lines Transit Dispatch
TAPS Transit Dispatch
Wichita Falls Transit Dispatch

Processes:

4.1.6Manage Transit Vehicle Operations Data
4.2.1.1Process Demand Responsive Transit Trip Request
4.2.1.2Compute Demand Responsive Transit Vehicle Availability
4.2.1.3Generate Demand Responsive Transit Schedule and Routes
4.2.1.4Confirm Demand Responsive Transit Schedule and Route
  

User Service Requirements (fully or partially addressed):

2.0PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
2.1PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT
2.1.0ITS shall include a Public Transportation Management (PTM) function.
2.1.1PTM shall include an Operation of Vehicles and Facilities (OVF) function that provides computer assisted control of the operation of vehicles and their associated facilities.
2.1.1.1To enable the automation of the vehicle and facilities operations OVF shall provide the capability to gather the needed data to include, but not be limited to, the following:
2.1.1.1(a)Vehicle passenger loading by bus stop and trip segment.
2.1.1.1(b)Bus running times between time points.
2.1.1.1(e)Mileage accumulated by individual buses.
2.1.1.2OVF shall include a Command and Control (CC) capability.
2.1.1.2.1CC shall provide the capability for real-time Vehicle Command and Control (VCC).
2.1.1.2.1.1VCC shall provide the capability to compare received information with predetermined operating condition specifications and note any deviations.
2.1.1.2.4CC shall include the capability for its computational capabilities to be located either on-vehicle and/or at remote locations.
2.1.2PTM shall include a Planning and Scheduling Services (PSS) function to automate the planning and scheduling of public transit operations.
2.1.2.2The PSS shall include a Schedule Generation capability.
2.1.2.2.1The PSS Schedule Generation function shall collect data for schedule generation including, but not limited to, the following:
2.1.2.2.1(c)Revenue information.
2.1.3PTM shall include a Personnel Management (PM) function to facilitate the management of both driver and maintenance personnel.
2.1.3.2PM shall include a Driver Personnel Management (DPM) function.
2.1.3.2.3In generating fair driver assignments DPM shall include factors relating to drivers preferences and qualifications to include, but not be limited to, the following:
2.1.3.2.3(b)Driver schedule preference.
2.3.0ITS shall include a Personalized Public Transit (PPT) function.
2.3.1The PPT shall include a Rider Request function.
2.3.1.1Rider Request shall provide the capability for an individual rider to request a trip by specifying the trip origin and destination, time and date.
2.3.1.2Rider Request shall provide the capability for an individual to specify a rider's special equipment or handling requirements.
2.3.1.3Rider Request shall provide the capability to notify a requester of the fact that a trip assignment has been made including the time at which the vehicle is expected at the point of departure.
2.3.2The PPT shall include a Vehicle Assignment function.
2.3.2.1Vehicle Assignment shall utilize vehicle availability, special requirements and rides requested information to determine vehicle assignments and routing.
2.3.2.2For random route operations Vehicle Assignment shall assign trip origin and destination.
2.3.2.3For flexible route operations Vehicle Assignment shall control how fixed route buses are detoured.
2.3.2.4For reservation based random-route operations Vehicle Assignment shall provide the capability to plan routes that optimize vehicle schedules while considering passengers' needs.
2.3.2.5Vehicle Assignment shall provide the capability to select the best match between riders' needs and the available vehicles.
2.3.2.6Vehicle Assignment shall provide services to both publicly owned and privately owned, publicly licensed vehicles.
2.3.2.7In order to service travelers in low-demand time (e.g., night time and weekends) Vehicle Assignment shall provide services 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
2.3.2.8Vehicle Assignment shall assign vehicle routes within 4 blocks of rider's trip origin point.
2.3.2.9Vehicle Assignment shall be a real-time system.
2.3.2.10Vehicle Assignment shall provide the capability to accommodate immediate trip requests when enough capacity is available for the added rider pickup and delivery.
2.3.4The PPT shall include an Information Processing function.
2.3.4.2Information Processing shall use information to attempt to minimize the amount of time each passenger must ride.
2.3.4.3Information Processing shall provide the capability to automate the assignment of drivers to vehicles.
8.0MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
8.1MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS
8.1.0ITS shall provide Maintenance and Construction Operations (MCO) functions to support monitoring, operating, maintaining, improving and managing the physical condition of roadways, the associated infrastructure equipment, and the required resources. MCO shall focus on four major functions: 1) the Maintenance Vehicle Fleet Management function, to monitor and track locations and conditions of fleets of maintenance, construction, and specialized service vehicles; 2) the Roadway Management function, to monitor and forecast conditions and manage treatment of roadways during various travel conditions; 3) the Work Zone Management and Safety function, to support effective and efficient roadway operations during work zone activities; and 4) the Roadway Maintenance Conditions and Work Plan Dissemination function, to coordinate work plans and to communicate conditions. This User Service will utilize ITS systems and processes to support interchange of information among diverse groups of users, to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operational, maintenance, and managerial activities.
8.1.1Maintenance and Construction Operations shall provide a Maintenance Vehicle Fleet Management (MVFM) function to schedule and dispatch, monitor and track location, and monitor operational condition and maintenance requirements of public and contracted fleets of maintenance, construction, and specialized service vehicles. This function includes interactions among Traffic Managers, Supervisors, Dispatchers, Field Crews, Construction Crews, Vehicle Maintenance Crews, Equipment Maintenance Crews, Weather Services Organizations, and Information Service Providers.
8.1.1.2MVFM shall be capable of supporting route scheduling and dispatching of public and contracted fleets of maintenance, construction, and specialized service vehicles.
8.1.1.6MVFM shall be capable of providing dispatchers and operators of maintenance, construction, and specialized service vehicles with information regarding potential and actual roadway problems.
8.1.1.6.1MVFM shall provide information to dispatchers and vehicle operators, including but not limited to:
8.1.1.6.1(a)Congestion
8.1.1.6.1(b)Incidents
8.1.1.6.1(c)Roadway restrictions
8.1.1.6.1(d)Environmental conditions
8.1.1.6.2MVFM shall be capable of filtering, fusing, processing, and presenting data from multiple weather and environmental sources.
8.1.1.6.3MVFM shall be capable of receiving fused weather and roadway information from external sources, including but not limited to:
8.1.1.6.3(a)Surface transportation sources
8.1.1.6.3(b)Weather service organizations
8.1.1.6.4MVFM shall be capable of using fused weather and roadway information from external sources to aid in scheduling roadway maintenance and construction activities.
8.1.1.6.6MVFM shall support transmission of fleet operations data to other Operations centers.
8.1.2Maintenance and Construction Operations shall provide a Roadway Management (RWM) function to monitor traffic, road surface, and environmental conditions and forecast traffic and road surface conditions to support management of routine and hazardous road condition remediation and to communicate changes in conditions. This function includes interactions among Traffic Managers, Supervisors, Dispatchers, Field Crews, Construction Crews, Asset Managers, Planning Agencies, and Weather Services Organizations.
8.1.2.2RWM shall support provision of efficient and effective roadway operations during normal and severe weather or adverse travel conditions.
8.1.2.4RWM shall determine the need for forecasted and scheduled roadway treatment.
8.1.2.4.1RWM shall be capable of filtering, fusing, processing and presenting data from multiple weather and environmental sources.
8.1.2.4.2RWM shall be capable of receiving and fusing weather and roadway information from external sources, including but not limited to:
8.1.2.4.2(a)Surface transportation sources
8.1.2.4.2(b)Weather service organizations
8.1.2.4.3RWM shall make use of information on current and forecast weather.
8.1.3Maintenance and Construction Operations shall provide a Work Zone Management and Safety (WZMS) function, which provides support for the effectiveness, safety, and efficiency of roadway operations during all work zone activities. This function includes interactions among Traffic Managers, Supervisors, Dispatchers, Field Crews, Construction Crews, Public Safety Organizations, Information Service Providers, and Travelers.
8.1.3.1WZMS shall monitor, control, and direct activity in the vicinity of work zones.
8.1.3.1.1WZMS shall provide information about work zones, including but not limited to:
8.1.3.1.1(a)Anticipated delays
8.1.3.1.1(b)Alternate routes
8.1.3.1.1(c)Suggested speed limit
8.1.3.2WZMS shall support the management of data about work zones.
8.1.3.2.1WZMS shall collect information concerning work zone activities, including but not limited to:
8.1.3.2.1(a)Location
8.1.3.2.1(b)Nature / type
8.1.3.2.1(c)Scheduled start time
8.1.3.2.1(d)Duration
8.1.3.2.1(e)Lane shifts
8.1.3.2.1(f)Staging areas
8.1.3.2.1(g)Length of work zone
8.1.3.2.1(h)Scheduled phases of work zone configuration
8.1.3.2.1(i)Alternate routes
8.1.3.2.1(j)Anticipated delays for travel route
8.1.3.2.1(k)Anticipated delays for diversion route
8.1.3.2.4WZMS shall provide information on work zone activities to other agencies, including but not limited to:
8.1.3.2.4(e)Traffic management systems
8.1.3.3WZMS shall provide systems that communicate reliable, accurate, and timely traveler information, including but not limited to:
8.1.3.3(a)Location, including lane closure information
8.1.3.3(b)Alternate route / detour
8.1.3.3(c)Work zone speed limit
8.1.3.3(d)Delay
8.1.4Maintenance and Construction Operations shall provide a Roadway Maintenance Conditions and Work Plan Dissemination (RMCWPD) function to provide Intra- and Inter-agency coordination of work plans. This function includes interactions among Traffic Managers, Supervisors, Planning Agencies, Public Safety Organizations, and Information Service Providers.
8.1.4.1RMCWPD shall coordinate information on planned maintenance and construction activities, including work zone information, and unplanned remediation activities, such as inclement weather responses, so that routing, scheduling, and resource allocation can be accomplished.
8.1.4.2RMCWP shall support inter-agency coordination of response and scheduling of resources for significant events with broad impact, like natural disasters, major incidents, and large planned or seasonal events.
8.1.4.3RMCWPD shall coordinate information with other transportation agencies, including but not limited to:
8.1.4.3(c)Transit
  
The detailed process and user service requirement traceability information on this page was extracted from the National ITS Architecture. Consult the National ITS Architecture web site for more information.

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