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BRIEFING MEMO
AC TRANSIT DISTRICT GM Memo No. 04-148 Board of Directors Executive Summary Meeting Date: May 5, 2004 Committees: Planning Committee Finance Committee External Affairs Committee Operations Committee
Student Pass Committee Paratransit Committee Board of Directors Financing Corporation
SUBJECT: Consider Report on System-Wide NextBus Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Information Only Briefing Item Recommended Motion
Fiscal Impact: None at this time. Existing and planned NextBus services for AC Transit are paid out of existing grant programs. Any additional NextBus services will receive additional funding.
Background/Discussion: The NextBus real time bus arrival information system was implemented as part of the 72R San Pablo Rapid Bus project. Displays at 72R bus stops, other than Oakland, provide real-time arrival information for Lines 72, 72M, and 72R. Also, an Internet website provides real-time bus arrival information for all bus stops on Lines 72, 72M, and 72R. A separate Agency Management website is password protected and
BOARD ACTION: Approved as Recommended [ ] Other [ ] Approved with Modification(s) [ ]
[To be filled in by District Secretary after Board/Committee Meeting]
The above order was passed on ______, 2004.
Rose Martinez, District Secretary By GM Memo No. 04-148 Subject: Systemwide Deployment of NextBus System Date: May 5, 2004 Page 2 of 5 presents staff with capabilities such as real-time monitoring, real-time corridor management, and substantial report generation. System set-up and services for a three-year period have been funded as part of the San Pablo Rapid grants.
The budget for the International/Telegraph Rapid Bus project has allocated $1.64 million in funding for the NextBus system. This includes all capital costs and 3-year capitalized costs for the addition of 70 shelters with NextBus displays and real-time information for 37 buses. These numbers are approximate, and may change as implementation of the International/Telegraph Rapid proceeds.
NextBus Deployment Benefits Deployment of NextBus provides the following benefits: S Real-time bus arrival information for riders, making public transit more predictable and usable by passengers. S Data archiving and resources for staff to create prepackaged reports or develop additional internal reports. S Capability for real-time system management - Transportation Supervisors assigned to the 72R Rapid Bus have laptops equipped with wireless modems. This allows them to access Agency Maps to view real-time locations of buses on Lines 72, 72M, and 72R, and make on the spot schedule adjustments as needed. This real-time access permits faster response time for on-time performance issues, and provides a mechanism for prompt information updates in the NextBus system.
Other Planned NextBus Projects AC Transit staff, in conjunction with BART and NextBus, is planning to provide an airport-style NextBus display at the Fruitvale BART station. Monitors with 40-inch LCD displays will provide real time departure information for all AC Transit routes using the Fruitvale BART Transit Center, which is the second busiest stop in the AC Transit system. Funds for the capital costs and two years of operation for this project would come from existing Fruitvale BART Transit Center grant funds.
If all parties are satisfied with this project, AC Transit and BART will jointly apply for Regional Measure 2 funds to expand this type of NextBus real time bus arrival information to other BART stations with similar, strong interconnections between BART and AC Transit buses.
Future Rapid Bus corridors such as MacArthur and College Avenues would also include a NextBus component, which will require additional grant funding. GM Memo No. 04-148 Subject: Systemwide Deployment of NextBus System Date: May 5, 2004 Page 3 of 5
Potential For System-Wide NextBus Program The Board has requested a report on the potential for system-wide NextBus implementation. Staff believes there are substantial costs, a significant number of hurdles and major disadvantages associated with systemwide NextBus deployment:
S There are 6,500 bus stops in the AC Transit system; providing NextBus throughout the system would cost in excess of $100 million to implement and many millions of dollars to operate annually. There are no identifiable funds to cover these costs, nor AC Transit cost savings associated with providing NextBus.
S Providing NextBus means installing a substantial number of required components: 1. NextBus signs, and wireless modems 2. NextBus software setup for the related routes, and for the related buses on those routes 3. Bus shelters to house the signs 4. Electric power to activate the signs 5. PG&E permits and activation fees 6. Annual costs for operating and maintaining the NextBus system, plus AC Transit supervision costs.
S Providing electrical power at each location has proven laborious and expensive. NextBus displays are considered a variable power unit and PG&E requires a separate meter for each installation. This requirement has been circumvented at only two locations, by obtaining concurrence and directly tapping into the electrical power of the adjoining business at two locations (Walgreens on northbound San Pablo at Ashby, and Subway on southbound San Pablo at Solano).
Additionally, solar panels will be installed to provide electrical power to the NextBus display on southbound San Pablo at 40th Street. Solar is an alternative but only where sufficient sunlight is available to power the system during the day and store battery power for nighttime use. Some jurisdictions might have aesthetic concerns with solar panel installations, and solar installations provide additional opportunities for vandalism.
S The large capital investment per bus stop means we would not be able to move stops once NextBus is installed at that location, without substantial expense.
S Resource allocation for the “care and feeding” of NextBus to ensure reliability of the real-time information and consequently credibility of the system is extensive. Staff time and equipment are necessary to monitor the system, and readily identify and correct any malfunctions. The AVL equipment should be working and communicating consistently. The data flow from SATCOM and OTS to NextBus must be kept accurate and continuous. Changes such as road calls and incorrect bus id’s must be expeditiously reflected in OTS. GM Memo No. 04-148 Subject: Systemwide Deployment of NextBus System Date: May 5, 2004 Page 4 of 5
Financial Issues:
Attachment A provides a breakdown of readily identifiable NextBus costs, utilizing unit costs from our current contract with NextBus. These costs are grouped into four categories: NextBus Display Capital Costs, NextBus Display Capitalized Startup Costs, Bus Shelter Costs, and Vehicle Capitalized Startup Costs.
S NextBus Display Capital Costs Material costs and installation inside LAMAR shelters are straightforward and readily quantified. However, staff is currently working with Adshel to develop an aesthetically acceptable installation for the shelters in the City of Oakland, which may be substantially more expensive. At this time Adshel has not agreed to install NextBus signs in any of its shelters within the City of Oakland. Electrical power is required at each installation; electrical and concrete costs are substantial, and vary depending on the situation. PG&E permit fees are required due to PG&E rules governing variable power applications such as NextBus signs. This totals $56.6 to $89.1 million, depending on distance from a PG&E electrical source.
S NextBus Display Capitalized Startup Cost NextBus communicates with each display using wireless modems; the wireless access costs are passed through directly to AC Transit. This is the unit cost for providing real-time information and message console capability at each display, capitalized for a 3-year period. In addition, initial setup costs and ongoing costs for NextBus’ Application Service Package (ASP) must be replicated for each location. This totals $22.6 million, based on current costs, which in turn were based on providing NextBus in multiple Rapid corridors.
S Cost of Bus Shelters Shelter buildout at no cost to AC Transit, by both LAMAR and Adshel, will total approximately 750 bus shelters. Unit cost of providing additional shelters is conservatively estimated at approximately $5,000 per location. A total cost of $28.8 million is projected.
S Vehicle Capitalized StartUp Cost NextBus charges a unit cost to monitor and display real-time information for each vehicle. These costs are capitalized for a 3-year period and include maintenance of the public display map and the agency map, plus the report capabilities. This cost is projected at $1.1 million.
These costs total between $110 -140 million. In addition, there are other costs and complications not as easily quantifiable. At both AC Transit and NextBus, personnel will have to be dedicated to continuous system monitoring, including prompt entry of any coach exchange information. Otherwise, the real time bus arrival information will GM Memo No. 04-148 Subject: Systemwide Deployment of NextBus System Date: May 5, 2004 Page 5 of 5 be inaccurate, and our customers will be unhappy. This will require added staff at AC Transit, along with added technology such as the laptops currently in use by the supervisors assigned to the San Pablo Rapid, and added technology training for the entire transportation supervision staff. This also implies substantial added investment in Satcom, and a major OTS system upgrade. At NextBus, the added level of complexity generated by providing reliable information throughout the entire system will require added staff, constant monitoring, and a higher level of technological capability. Rapid staff’s experience is that NextBus does not have this level of capability at this time.
Finally, staff questions the cost effectiveness of dedicating a significant investment of time, money and personnel in a customer amenity which may or may not lead to some increase in ridership. For all of these reasons, staff believes that continued gradual increases in NextBus capacity, through added Rapid lines and possible added information at BART stations, is a fiscally responsible way to proceed.
Prior Relevant Board Actions/Policies: GM Memo 03-011 Authorize the General Manager to Negotiate a Contract with NextBus for Bus Arrival Information Services within the San Pablo Rapid Corridor
Attachments: Attachment A: NextBus Costs
Approved by: Rick Fernandez, General Manager Nancy Skowbo, Deputy General Manager Service Development
Prepared by: Jon Twichell, Manager Capital Projects Implementation Cesar Pujol, Senior Traffic Engineer
Date Prepared: April 22, 2004