2012 ITS-NY NINETEENTH ANNUAL MEETING June 7 – 8, 2012; Saratoga Springs, NY
Efficiency and ITS
Friday, June 8, 2012 10:30 Panel 5: Transit Information Revolution
Panel Moderator: Andrew Bata, MTA New York City Transit “The Challenges and Benefits of Integrating Proprietary Legacy Systems in Public Transit,” Thomas George,
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority “MTA Bus Time Project,” Jennifer Strasser, Cambridge Systematics
“On the Go! Travel Station/Kiosk,” Andrew Bata, MTA New York City Transit
The Challenges and Benefits of Integrating
Proprietary Legacy Systems in Public Transit
ITS-NY June 8, 2012
1
Vision
Summary of Existing Systems
Challenges
Opportunities
Benefits
Approach
Strategy for Success
Introduction
3
Approximately 20 Major Systems
Organizational
Rail Operations &Maintenance
Bus Operations &Maintenance
Planning & Scheduling
Customer Service
Administration
Multitude of Vendors
Multiple Data Base and Operating Systems
Large multi-year investment providing current opportunities
Existing System Overview
5
Historically Proprietary
Products not always consistent with needs
Access to code and data formatting limited
Customization very expensive and sole source
Procurement guideline restrictions
Integration Challenges
Multiple operating systems
Isolated databases
Differing file structures
Inconsistent report platforms
Challenges
6
State of good repair Warranty expiration
Hardware/software support
Hardware/software incompatible
Organizational IT / Operations Delineation
Establish point of responsibility and organizational accountability
Restructure and balance with consultant services with unionized workforce
Change corporate culture to establish priority
Resources Resource demand in constrained environment
Challenges
7
APC /Fare Collection / Scheduling
Fare reconciliation
Service review and adjustment
Bus Radio / Train Control / Traveler Info
IVR
Webpage
Next Vehicle & other Apps
Fleet Management / Radio/ Schedule
Operational efficiencies
Opportunities
8
Single GUI for command and control
Standard data dictionary adoption
Single point of reporting
Real time application - dashboard
Planning
O/D
Ridership and revenue
Schedule integration
Benefits
9
Simplify systems
Lower life cycle cost
Integration across modes
Adaptability of customer service and traveler information
Fleet and personnel management
Benefits
10
Inventory Systems and Architecture
Current technological capabilities and their shortcomings
Needs assessment
COTS availability / applicability
Systems Engineering Process
Short and long term implementation
Establish system delivery principles
Interoperability
Data management
Life cycle support
Approach - ITS Strategic Plan
11
Short and long term implementation of social media
Identification of requirements and resources
Application
Traveler Info
Community Involvement
Customer service
Approach - Social Media Strategic Plan
12
Single source data retrieval
Consistent data definitions
Data integrity
Multiple user input/access points
Open platform
Ownership
Cross jurisdictional opportunities
Redundancy
Approach - Data Warehouse
13
Ongoing Projects
Fare Collection - Rail & Bus
Transit Signal Priority
IVR
Payroll System
Radio
Rail Car – PIS & APC
14
Long Range Vision
Corporate Culture
Performance Measurement
Integration
Dashboard
Resources
Human - Technical
Capital
Maintenance
Patience !!
Strategy for Success
presented to
presented by
Cambridge Systematics, Inc.
MTA Bus Time
Delivering Real Time Bus Location Information to NYC Customers
ITS-NY Annual Meeting
June 8, 2012
Jennifer Strasser
Agenda
Project goals
Project overview
Demonstration
How does it work?
Timeline
Feedback and statistics
2
MTA Bus Time Project Goals
Enhance the bus-riding experience for customers
Improve scheduling, service management, and emergency
response based on real time and open data
Use open source technology
» Cost-effective, quick to deploy, simple to maintain and operate,
and supports expansion as needed in the future
» Other developers can use the data
Leverage hardware investments
» GPS, on-board computing hardware, wireless communications
being used for Fare Payment System and Bus Time
3
MTA Bus Time Project Overview
Provides the location of the next several buses that will arrive
at a particular stop
Uses GPS hardware and wireless communications technology
to track the real-time location of buses
MTA Bus Time is available using
» Desktop website
» Mobile website (smartphones)
» SMS text messaging (any mobile phone)
» “Do It Yourself” signs
4
Desktop Website http://mta.info/bustime
5
Interactive map
View current locations of
buses and the next stops
each bus will make
Find bus arrivals by:
» Using the map
» Searching for an Intersection
» Searching for a bus route
» Searching for a bus stop
Mobile Website http://bustime.mta.info/m
Visit mobile website or
scan QR code at bus stop
Accessibility-friendly text-
only version of Bus Time
Find bus arrivals by:
» Using smartphone’s GPS
» Bus stop code
» Route
» Intersection
» Zip code
7
SMS / Text Messaging
8
Send a text message to
511123
Accessibility-friendly text-
only version of Bus Time
Find bus arrivals by:
» Sending a bus stop code
and route
» Sending an intersection
and route
Queue
Host
IE IE
Archiver
Real-time Queue
Output Queue
Cellular
Network
…
…
Database Load
Balancer
App App
Some Facts
1 million messages a day from 600 buses
Full roll-out to all 5 boroughs will include 6,000 buses
1,000 hits a day for Staten Island
20 virtual machines for production
13
Timeline
February 2011 – Pilot in on the B63 route in Brooklyn
January 2012 – All MTA bus routes in Staten Island went live
March 2012 – Rolled B63 (Brooklyn) into new system
April 2012 – Rolled M34 (Manhattan) into new system
Today – Phase 2: stabilizing and automating data processes
December 2013 – Remaining 4 boroughs
14
For More Information http://mta.info/bustime
MTA
» Sunil Nair [email protected]
» Mike Frumin [email protected]
Cambridge Systematics
» Rick Schulte [email protected]
» Sheldon Brown [email protected]
» Jenn Strasser [email protected]
OpenPlans
» Jeff Maki [email protected]
15
Andrew Bata Strategic Improvements and Best Practices
MTA – NYC Transit
Connecting with Transit Customers for the 21st century
Customer Communication
• 20th Century – Put up signs, hope people see
them
• 21st century – Interactivity, two way
communication, personal customization, REAL
TIME!
• People want to know what they need to know
and don’t care about things that are irrelevant
TO THEM
New York City Transit 1
On The Go! – Project Goals
• Improve customer communication via better
access to relevant data
• Replace paper signage
• Create device that can interact with customers in
a known format (e.g. touch screen interface)
• Potential revenue generation (advertising)
• Positive image of MTA network
New York City Transit 2
What Is it?
• On The Go! is an interactive,
touch screen, digital information
center
– Trip Planning
– Real-time service status
– Neighborhood maps
– Service diversions
– Shopping and dining options (3rd
party apps)
• It’s like a giant iPad, but better!
New York City Transit 3
Current Pilot
• Five Locations
– Bowling Green (Subway)
– Atlantic/Barclays (Subway)
– 74th/Roosevelt (Subway)
– Grand Central Terminal (Metro-
North)
– Penn Station (LIRR)
• Home screens are customized for
different user experiences (e.g.
subway map, LIRR train arrival)
Fill in Agency Name on Master 7
What Other Cities Are Doing
• London: Interactive bus maps help travelers, especially at night
• Madrid: train arrival signs with advertising and service info
• Stockholm: Station agents carry wireless tablets that provide them with information to better assist customers.
• Tokyo: Digital media and real time information systems are fully incorporated into the design of the stations.
New York City Transit 8
Design Features
New York City Transit 9
• Award winning sleek,
stainless steel design
• 46 inch 1080p touch screen
• Video camera and
microphone – future option
• Partnership with Cisco to
develop computer software
• CUNY – Transportation
Research Center market
research partner
Design Features
New York City Transit 10
• Each kiosk can be
programmed individually
from a central computer
• Content can be changed
according to usage, time
of day, weather, or any
other variable
• Gives NYCT and
advertisers flexibility
Placement Criteria
New York City Transit 11
• Access to power and
internet (wired or wireless)
• ADA compliant
• Sensitive to station artwork
and historic designation
• Optimum customer access
without impeding circulation
• Planning for multiple units
in array for high visibility
Installation Issues
New York City Transit 12
• Multiple issues have
arisen during initial
pilot install
• Power and
communication
needs
• Vandal-Proofing
• Customer flow
• Access for
maintenance
Operation and Maintenance
New York City Transit 13
• Physical structure
maintenance – NYC Transit
• Computer maintenance
initially through Cisco
• Increasingly, maintenance
will be in-house with a
dedicated workforce
Revenue Generation Potential
• Requests for Expression of Interest
• Public/Private Partnership
• Kiosks might pay for themselves over time via advertising
• Potential for highly-customized national, local, and hyperlocal advertising opportunities
• Interactive advertising including clickability on ads
New York City Transit 14
Future of OTG
• NYC Transit Systemwide rollout – Across all MTA agencies
• Multiple units per location
• New features to be considered – Virtual Station Agent (part of extended pilot – currently
under testing)
– Real time bus arrival information (BusTime)
• Software is highly customizable for future updates
• Station navigation
• Near field communications – Interactivity with mobile devices
New York City Transit 15