Viajeo PlusTuesday 30 June 2015

CityMobil2 : La Rochelle’s demo : first results

LA ROCHELLE URBAN COMMUNITY (1/2)

La Rochelle

162 000 inhabitants (28 municipalities) – small Medium sized cityon the Atlantic Coast

Industrial sector : boat industry, transport (Alstom, Delphi, Rhodia….), commercial harbour …

Other sectors : tourism & services, leisure harbour, University

La Rochelle, clean transports, innovation (1/2)

Electric car-sharing since 1999

Electric shuttles since 2002

Urban goods deliveries using Evs since 2000

Bike-sharing system since 1976 !

Electro-solar boats since 1998

A unique smartcard for using all modes of transports

La Rochelle , a fertile territory for experimentation, citizens sensitive to innovation

La Rochelle and automated transport systems : a gradual involvement (1/2)

2008 : Showcase

•Short period : 15 days

•Tests in a small & closed environment

Main objective :

Awareness-raising of the population

… and of the decision- makers

La Rochelle and automated transport systems : a gradual involvement (1/2)

2011 : Small Demonstration

- A route for the cybercar (800m) in an urbanopen environment: interactions withpedestrians, cyclists, cars

- A system of tranport :

• 5 stations

• 2 vehicles

• Fleet management system

An on-demand transport service (« horizontal elevator)

- A 3-month demo (tests included) 3h/d

A step further : CityMobil2 project

Study phase : consider the scenarii for the development of ARTS in La Rochelle

o show the relevance of ARTS in the cityo consider short to long term scenariio consider various potential uses

And as a conclusion propose an appropriate demo site

Transport links supplying tourist areas from the main city gates (airport, train stations)

Feeder service

- from dense and/or mixed zones with various urban functions- to P+R or BRT lines

Trips within a dense & access controlled zones with various urban functions

Innovative transport supply where a conventional transport is not adapted

various uses

A demonstration proposed, a route retained

• A realistic choice : Some works and adaptations (smart traffic lights systems, road adaptation, signs/panels) have to be carried out but are quite minor

⇒Fully IN the city, it is technically feasible !

• Good connection with the other public transport services : bus, e car-sharing, bike-sharing, electro-solar boats, train

• Robosoft vehicles designated for La Rochelle demonstration

• For technical reason, adoption of a step-by-step approach

The route : from trainstation to the University6 vehicles; 10-11 persons6 months operation: fromOctober 14 to March 156 vehicles during peakhours, 4 during off peakhours10km/hour; 10 h autonomy10 operators-supervisorsSupervision system

La Rochelle’s initial plans

Preparation Stations installedAdaptation / Road works

Road markingtraffic lights @ crossingsremoval of a significant number ofuncontrolled on-street parking

Operators recruited and trained

Preparation : involvement of stakeholders

Public meeting/consultationInfo deskHotline

Exchanges with a lot of stakeholders : police, fire department, French Post,inhabitants, shopkeepers, PT operators, bike associations,property managers, Aquarium, Tourist Office, LR University, Port authorities…

The reality : adaptation of the plansPlanning postponed

Progressive delivery of vehiclesfrom late Sept 14 to end FebruaryLegal authorization in Dec 14A (more than) 4-month demofrom 17th Dec to 25th April

Route: Aquarium -TechnoforumNo link to the train stationA step-by-step approach

17/12: Aquarium-Motte Rouge26/01: Aquarium-Motte Rouge

+ Technoforum-Médiathèque04/03 :Aquarium –Technoforum

La Rochelle’s demo : adaptation of the plansA careful approach : safety first

Risk reduction analysisCareful approach endorsed by theoperation/operators team (Proxiway/Robosoft/Eigsi)Limited speed

No accident reported (only 1 small incident)

Permanent adaptation and reactivity:Operators recruited (7 instead of 10)Supervision issues Daily operation:

Local events – adaptation of the route/operation Support of municipal police on illegal parking

Communication /awareness raising actionsFlyers, dedicated webpage, institutionalmagazinesLocal, national, international coverageSpecial edition of a 4-page newspaper

for 6-10 years. Delivered to all pupils ofthe territory (8500 copies)

Communication /awareness raising actions10 classes of the urban community (more than 300 pupils)for a dedicated workshop + ride in the vehicles

Evaluation : data collectionVehicle data + Daily operation reports :deviations, operators actions, incidentsUser surveys

Pedestrian/cyclists surveys

Wide-public + Stakeholders questionnaire

A success : a total number of nearly 15 000 passenger trips (14 661 trips) The step-by-step deployment approach (several legs, several steps) was useful to solve the technical difficultiesThe realistic choice of the route turned out to be positive (compared to the plans considered in the study) as it was less disruptive (for drivers) but useful for the local inhabitants

Demonstration setup: Positive (1/2)

The extensive preparatory work with ALL stakeholders in the route proved very useful

The (long but in the end) positive dialogue with the French State Authorities

Demonstration setup: Positive (2/2)

The delay and technical problems of the fleet (from the setup phase) did not allow to provide the “real transportation service” we initially planned.

Demonstration setup: Negative

Be realistic, not too ambitious - as the reality is more demanding than the plansA very reactive team (from the setup phase) is crucial, to take into account the “real urban conditions” of a city, the changes in the plans

Demonstration setup: Lessons (1/2)

Enforcement is necessary but the police cannot always be on site. The right balance between the “carrot” and the “stick” has to be found (importance of the stakeholders consultation).

Enforcement is necessary but the police cannot always be on site. The right balance between the “carrot” and the “stick” has to be found (importance of the stakeholders consultation). The route was mainly chosen because of its feasibility and less for the service. But it ended being useful for certain users, with even “regular” users…

Demonstration setup: Lessons (2/2)

Operators were very well perceived by the users (thanks to a good training and information). They were key in the success to raise the awareness of the public.

Demonstration operation: Positive

The absence of Fleet Management and Supervision system was detrimental. This is a prerequisite for an operation without operator.

Demo operation: Negative

A too short “full-scale” demonstration due to the delivery of the vehicles and technical problems.

The final route was in operation from 4th

March only

Operators are a crucial contact point of users with the system : importance of their training , they need to know the project/vehicle/system (even on the technical aspects). Reactivity/flexibility of the operator team to cope with the limitations of the system

Demo operation: Lessons (1/2)

Demo operation: Lessons (2/2)

Infrastructure adjustments – notably a clear marking all along the route - and improvements are (also) key to consider removing the on-board operators

Illegal parking, roadside works : operate ARTS in urban conditions is not an easy task. A good governance and organization of the information between stakeholders need to be anticipated.

Positive : the careful approach (“safety first”) was key.

Negative : The accessibility of the vehicles was not met. This is a key aspect in public transport in France.

System: Positive / negative

The system/vehicle of the future is “a whole” : if the vehicle is not accessible, it cannot be considered as “the transport of the future”.

System: Lessons

Communication had to be adjusted : from “transport service of the future" to ”experimentation/test of an innovative system” Accessibility of the vehicle for impaired : communicate on the accessibility of the vehicle whereas it is not fully accessible for wheelchair is detrimental.

Dissemination: negative/ lessons

Communication/awareness raising before and during the experimentation was very positive

Notably actions towards school children the Urban Community (dedicated newspaper, 11 workshops and 11 schools visits (1/2 day))

Dissemination: Positive

Engage the citizens – from the youngest age to the elderly !

people are often less reluctant to change and innovation that one foresees

Dissemination: lessons learnt

La Rochelle : a significant step forward as regards the integration of automated vehicles in citiesA high visibility / awareness of the populationA lot of useful lessons learnt, a base for improvementsImprovements (notably technical) to be done for providing a reliable and real transportation service.

Conclusion

Thanks !

Matthieu GRAINDORGE