U.S. DOT T3 WebinarU.S. DOT T3 WebinarMobile Device Mobile Device Technology Technology
TCRP Synthesis 91TCRP Synthesis 91April 10, 2012April 10, 2012
Case StudyCase StudyLeeTran – Lee County, FLLeeTran – Lee County, FL
Mike Horsting, AICPMike Horsting, AICP
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Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline►Lee County BackgroundLee County Background►Situation and NeedSituation and Need► Identified SolutionIdentified Solution►Technology Procurement and Technology Procurement and
InstallationInstallation►Trouble-shootingTrouble-shooting►Results and BenefitsResults and Benefits
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Who is LeeTran?Who is LeeTran?►Lee County Transit – Fort Myers, FLLee County Transit – Fort Myers, FL►County-wide bus route networkCounty-wide bus route network►18 bus routes18 bus routes►Bus fleet of 61Bus fleet of 61►3.1 million annual passenger trips3.1 million annual passenger trips►Traditional transit rider and touristsTraditional transit rider and tourists
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Where is Lee County?Where is Lee County?
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Fort Myers Beach Fort Myers Beach Dreaming…Dreaming…
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Fort Myers Beach Reality…Fort Myers Beach Reality…
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StakeholdersStakeholders► Town of Fort Myers BeachTown of Fort Myers Beach
► Lee County TransitLee County Transit
► Lee County Department of Lee County Department of TransportationTransportation
► State of Florida Department State of Florida Department of Transportationof Transportation
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Identifying the ProblemIdentifying the Problem►Tourism DestinationTourism Destination
Great beaches and warm, sunny wintersGreat beaches and warm, sunny winters► Island Community with Limited AccessIsland Community with Limited Access►Significant to Severe CongestionSignificant to Severe Congestion►Limited Parking Limited Parking ►Driver BehaviorDriver Behavior►Limited TransitLimited Transit
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Identifying the NeedsIdentifying the Needs►Additional Passenger InformationAdditional Passenger Information
Number one passenger requestNumber one passenger request Reduce the guessing Reduce the guessing (When will the trolley be here?)(When will the trolley be here?)
►Manage CongestionManage Congestion►Give Transit the AdvantageGive Transit the Advantage►Reduce Road-RageReduce Road-Rage
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Packaging a SolutionPackaging a Solution► Intelligent Transportation SystemsIntelligent Transportation Systems
Real-Time Passenger InformationReal-Time Passenger Information First at stops, then mobile devicesFirst at stops, then mobile devices
► Increase Capacity by Reducing Increase Capacity by Reducing HeadwaysHeadways
►Dedicated Transit Lane over BridgeDedicated Transit Lane over Bridge►Free ParkingFree Parking►Marketing CampaignMarketing Campaign►Luggage / Gear RacksLuggage / Gear Racks
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ITS RequirementsITS Requirements►Web-based and Cost effective solutionWeb-based and Cost effective solution►Real-Time Information must be:Real-Time Information must be:
80% accuracy for 10 minute predictions80% accuracy for 10 minute predictions 90% accuracy for 5 minute predictions90% accuracy for 5 minute predictions
►Vendor support for changes and upgradesVendor support for changes and upgrades►LED displays at four key stop locationsLED displays at four key stop locations►Expandable to other routes, vehicles and Expandable to other routes, vehicles and
information mediumsinformation mediums11
Solution Procurement Solution Procurement ►Solicitation - RFPSolicitation - RFP►Evaluation Criteria:Evaluation Criteria:
StabilityStability Recent ExperienceRecent Experience ReferencesReferences Technical ProposalTechnical Proposal Software RequirementsSoftware Requirements PricePrice
► Initial 5 year contract with vendorInitial 5 year contract with vendor12
Functional DiagramFunctional Diagram
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Installation and TestingInstallation and Testing► Vehicle InstallationVehicle Installation► LED Displays at StationsLED Displays at Stations
Power SourcesPower Sources► Initial learning period 1-2 monthsInitial learning period 1-2 months
Off-season time periodOff-season time period Quick accuracyQuick accuracy One routeOne route
► Test Launch and Test Launch and MonitorMonitor
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Initial Information SourcesInitial Information Sources►LED DisplaysLED Displays
Arrivals and Current TimeArrivals and Current Time
► InternetInternet Arrivals and Interactive MapArrivals and Interactive Map
►SMS (phase II)SMS (phase II) Text Text
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DeploymentDeployment►TrainingTraining
Dispatchers and SupervisorsDispatchers and Supervisors OperatorsOperators
►Marketing and AdvertisingMarketing and Advertising Brochures Brochures Variable Message BoardsVariable Message Boards
►Monitoring into Winter SeasonMonitoring into Winter Season Field ObservationsField Observations
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RealityReality►Seasonal Congestion too SevereSeasonal Congestion too Severe►Software MiscalculationsSoftware Miscalculations►Vehicles “Dropping-out”Vehicles “Dropping-out”► Inaccurate PredictionsInaccurate Predictions►Operational FrustrationsOperational Frustrations►Solar-powered SignsSolar-powered Signs
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Fixing RealityFixing Reality►Schedule-based PredictionsSchedule-based Predictions
►Headway-based PredictionsHeadway-based Predictions ““Loop Jobs”Loop Jobs”
►Accuracy AchievedAccuracy Achieved
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ExpansionExpansion►Added Information via Mobile DeviceAdded Information via Mobile Device►Two additional routesTwo additional routes
Entire beach zoneEntire beach zone►Entire dedicated fleet installationEntire dedicated fleet installation►All stopsAll stops
Stop ID numbersStop ID numbers
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Pushback/ResultsPushback/Results►““Our customers don’t use smart Our customers don’t use smart
phones”phones”
►SMS Text messagingSMS Text messaging►WebsiteWebsite►SmartphoneSmartphone►AlertsAlerts
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Overall ImprovementsOverall Improvements► Improved Customer SatisfactionImproved Customer Satisfaction
No more guessing at 4 major stopsNo more guessing at 4 major stops►Business Owner SatisfactionBusiness Owner Satisfaction
Customer informationCustomer information Extra businessExtra business
►Accurate Real-time Information Accurate Real-time Information ►Positive customer feedbackPositive customer feedback►Ridership increase of 32%Ridership increase of 32%
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Additional BenefitsAdditional Benefits►DispatchDispatch
Vehicle location monitoringVehicle location monitoring On-time performanceOn-time performance
►Additional Customer InformationAdditional Customer Information Service Advisories and DelaysService Advisories and Delays Planned service changesPlanned service changes
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Cost, Time, Staffing, Cost, Time, Staffing, BudgetingBudgeting
► Initial procurement of $60,000Initial procurement of $60,000 HardwareHardware InstallationInstallation First year operating costsFirst year operating costs
►Annual operating costs of $12,000Annual operating costs of $12,000►Lowered wireless costs after 5 yearsLowered wireless costs after 5 years►TIME! TIME!
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