NESTS Transit Planning Project Facilities and Technology Briefing

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NESTS Transit Planning ProjectFacilities and
Technology Briefing

• with
• CAST of Cornell University
• and
• Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP

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Tasks for Facility and Technology Review

• Determine whether and how a new transit center
  can be developed in the Route 13/ Triphammer Road
  area
• Assess the potential benefits of new traffic
  control, transit operations and traveler
  information-oriented technologies

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Transit Center Feasibility Assessment

• Five Dimensions of Feasibility
• Institutional
• Operational
• Physical
• Fiscal
• Cost-Effectiveness

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Transit Center Feasibility Assessment

• Key Questions on Feasibility
• Institutional Can all parties reach agreement
  on a workable site and plan?
• Operational Will the transit center truly
  benefit/be compatible with operations?
• Physical Can the center be fit as needed into
  an available space?
• Fiscal Are the initial and ongoing costs of
  center operations affordable to the region?
• Cost-Effectiveness Is development of the
  center worth doing?

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Exploring Potential Benefits of Technology

• Not just technology for technologys sake
  looking for practical benefits

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Some Possible Technology Applications

• Vehicle-Based/On the Road
• Signal Priority
• Bridge Signals
• Automatic Vehicle Location Systems
• Automatic Passenger Counters
• Improved Timed Transfers

• See the APTS Summary Table handout for other
  technologies which will be explored
• in the course of this Study

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Vehicle-Based/On the Road Concepts

• Signal Priority for Transit Vehicles
• Description
• Depending on whether a bus is running on time,
  early, or late, and whether it is currently at a
  stop boarding passengers, a computer on the bus
  decides whether to send a signal to a traffic
  light to extend a green light, or turn a red
  light to green to get the bus through the
  intersection faster.
• Potential Benefit
• Faster and more reliable service.

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Vehicle-Based/On the Road Concepts

• Bridge Signals for Transit Vehicles
• Description
• For one-lane bridges, approaching buses send
  signals to traffic lights (like the signal
  priority treatment) requesting that opposing
  traffic be stopped and the buses let through.
• Potential Benefit
• Helps keep transit on schedule.

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Vehicle-Based/On the Road Concepts

• Automatic Vehicle Location Systems
• Description
• Buses are tracked as they travel along their
  routes, using either Global Positioning Systems
  (GPS) or roadside beacons.
• Potential Benefit
• This is a key input to real-time traveler
  information, fleet monitoring and transit
  security.

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Vehicle-Based/On the Road Concepts

• Automatic Passenger Counters
• Description
• Optical sensors count passengers as they enter or
  leave a bus.
• Potential Benefit
• These data can provide important information on
  travel patterns and service needs.

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Vehicle-Based/On the Road Concepts

• Improved Timed Transfers
• Description
• Coordination of the schedules of different
  transit routes to facilitate transfers.
• Potential Benefits
• Easier use of transit for making connections
  between sites not on the same route, and reduced
  wait time for transfers.

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Some Possible Technology Applications

• Traveler Information Systems Real-Time Bus
  Status Information
• Kiosks
• Internet
• Countdown signs at stops

• See the ATIS Summary Table handout for other
  technologies which will be explored
• in the course of this Study

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Traveler Information Systems Concepts

• Kiosks
• Description
• Tied into bus tracking systems, touch-screen
  kiosks at malls, universities and other major
  destinations provide current information on bus
  status and opportunities for connections with
  other routes.
• Potential Benefits
• Improves pre-trip planning and system navigation
  can enhance the attractiveness of transit.

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Traveler Information Systems Concepts

• Internet
• Description
• Web-based counterpart to kiosks, providing
  24-hour access to bus status information and
  schedules.
• Potential Benefit
• As for kiosks, improved pre-trip planning.

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Traveler Information Systems Concepts

• Countdown Signs at Transit Stops
• Description
• Based on bus tracking system and schedule data,
  displays provide estimates of when buses will
  next arrive at a given stop.
• Potential Benefit
• Reduces traveler impatience with the system by
  providing clear indications of remaining waits.

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For More Information

• Fernando de Aragon, Ithaca-Tompkins County
  Transportation Council
• (607) 274 5570
• ITCTC_at_tompkins-co.org
• Steve Falbel, Multisystems, Inc.
• (617) 864 5810 x285
• sfalbel_at_multisystems.com
• Steve Allocco, Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP
• (518) 446 0396
• sallocco_at_cmellp.com