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Phase 2: Foundation Research

Final Report

Collage of a wheelchair-bound passenger exiting a passenger bus, an electronic bus stop sign, elderly passengers boarding a bus and an electronic farebox. Cover photos courtesy of TranSystems and SAIC. All rights reserved.
Cover photos courtesy of TranSystems and SAIC. All rights reserved.

Contract No. DTFH61-01-C-00180
Task No. SA80D090

Submitted to:
U.S. Department of Transportation
ITS Joint Program Office
Federal Transit Administration

Submitted by:
Science Applications International Corporation
1710 SAIC Drive
M/S T1-12-3
McLean, VA22102

July 29, 2005

Table of Contents

empty cell Report Documentation Page
empty cell List of Abbreviations
empty cell Executive Summary
1. Introduction
1.1 Scope
1.2 What Has Been Done?
1.2.1 GAO
1.2.2 Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility, United We Ride, and the New Freedom Initiative
1.2.3 Other Efforts
1.3 Current State of the Practice
1.3.1 United We Ride – Workshop Results and Follow-on
1.3.2 Oak Ridge National Laboratory: Human Services Transportation – A Cross-Cutting Study. ITS Applications for Coordinating and Improving Transportation Options for The Elderly, Disabled or Poor
1.3.3 Technology Solutions for Persons with Disabilities
1.3.4 Technical Assistance Efforts: CTAA, Easter Seals Project ACTION, and Others
1.4 Final Report Layout
2. Mobility, Accessibility, and Needs, Barriers, and Gaps
2.1 Purpose
2.2 Transportation Disadvantaged
2.3 Transportation Needs
2.4 Barriers
2.5 Current Service
2.5.1 Technology
2.5.2 Coordination
2.5.3 Training
2.6 Gaps
2.7 Summary Table
3. Linking Technology with Access and Mobility
3.1 Description of Available Technologies
3.1.1 Transit ITS
3.1.2 Assistive Technologies
3.1.3 Other Supporting Technologies
3.2 Applicability of Technologies
3.3 State of Readiness and Level of Deployment
3.4 Examples of Current Technology Deployments
3.4.1 Autonomous Dial-A-Ride Transit (ADART) in Corpus Christi, TX – Prototype Technology for Automated Dispatching
3.4.2 Wheels of Wellness in Philadelphia, PA – Coordination through Brokerage
3.4.3 TriMet in Portland, OR – Coordination of Accessibility on All Modes
3.4.4 Reach Your Destination Early (RYDE) in Kearney, NE – Goal Setting Using ITS Architecture
3.4.5 OmniLink in Prince William County, VA – Fixed Route Flex Service Aids All Users
3.4.6 Municipal Railway in San Francisco, CA – Remote Infrared Audible Signals (RIAS)
3.4.7 Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) in Suburban Detroit, MI
3.4.8 Utah Transit Agency Transfer Connection Protection
3.4.9 Ventura County Transportation Commission – Smart Passport (Integrated Fare Collection in Ventura, CA)
3.4.10 Tahoe Coordinated Transit System (CTS) in Lake Tahoe, California/Stateline, Nevada – Integrated Operation of Public and Private Transportation Resources
3.5 Issues and Barriers
3.5.1 Institutional Concerns
3.5.2 Technical Concerns
3.5.3 Technology Summary
4. Foundation Research Discussion Groups
4.1 Overview of the Discussion Groups
4.2 Discussion Group Format
4.3 Discussion Group Summaries
4.3.1 Consumers /Advocacy Organizations (Representing Transportation Disadvantaged)
4.3.2 Community Transportation/Non-Profit Transportation Agencies
4.3.3 Public Transit Agencies
4.3.4 Public Administrators
4.3.5 Private Industry
4.4 Overall Summary (Consumers, Community Transportation/Non-Profit Agencies, Public Transit Agencies, and Public Administrators)
4.5 Discussion Group Priorities and Overarching Themes (Consumers, Community Transportation/Non-Profit Agencies, Public Transit Agencies, and Public Administrators)
5. Synthesis of Major Findings
5.1 Summary of Transportation Mobility Needs
5.2 State of the Practice and a Summary of the Gaps
5.3 Options for Addressing Transit Mobility Gaps and Barriers to those Options
5.3.1 The Resource Solution
5.3.2 The Productivity Solution
5.3.3 The Role of Technology
6. Preliminary Thoughts Towards a Traveler Management Coordination Center
6.1 Core Elements of a Proposed Traveler Management Coordination Center
6.2 Option #1 – Physical Center
6.2.1 Strengths of the Physical Approach
6.2.2 Weaknesses of the Physical Approach
6.3 Option #2a – Virtual Approach (with centralized hardware)
6.4 Option #2b – Virtual Approach (No Centralized Hardware)
6.4.1 Strengths of Virtual Approach
6.4.2 Weaknesses of Virtual Approach
6.5 Recommended Approach
6.6 Implementation Considerations
7. Suggested Next Steps for MSAA Program
empty cell Appendix A: Discussion Group Summaries

List of Tables

List of Tables
Table 2-1 Personal Limitations
Table 2-2 Travel Modes
Table 2-3 Mobility and Accessibility Needs
Table 2-4 Mobility and Accessibility Barriers
Table 3-1 Personal Limitations and Travel Modes
Table 3-2 Potential Technology Solutions to Address Travel Needs
Table 3-3 State of Readiness / Deployment Level for Selected Transit ITS Services and Technologies
Table 3-4 Rural Operational Field Tests – FTA/HHS Coordination
Table 4-1 Discussion Themes Summary from First Four Discussion Groups
Table 5-1 High-Level Solutions to Address Transportation Mobility Gaps
Table 6-1 Capabilities Demonstrated by the ITS Operational Tests
Table 6-2 Capabilities of Additional ITS Deployments and Strategies

List of Figures

Figure ES-1 Proposed Traveler Management Coordination Center (Physical Solution)
Figure 3-1 Mobile Data Terminal
Figure 3-2 Computer-Aided Dispatch
Figure 3-3 Electronic Fare Payment
Figure 3-4 Intelligent Pedestrian Crossing
Figure 6-1 Core Components of a Potential Traveler Management Coordination Center
Figure 6-2 Proposed Traveler Management Coordination Center (Physical Solution)
Figure 6-3 Proposed Traveler Management Coordination Center (Virtual Approach –Centralized Hardware)
Figure 6-4 Proposed Traveler Management Coordination Center (Virtual Approach – No Centralized Hardware)


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