Real-time transit information Benefits, technologies, components, experiences and recommendations White paper prepared by Trillium Solutions, Inc. for Oregon Dept of Transportation (ODOT) Table of Contents About this white paper.................................................................................................................................................... 2 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Definition of real-time transit information .................................................................................................................................... 4 Components.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Benefits ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Recommendations to transit providers ..................................................................................................................................... 5 Planning .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Procurement ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Operation ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Recommendations to ODOT ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 Benefits ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Benefits for riders ................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Benefits for agencies ........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Functions and components ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Summary of functions ............................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Components & sub-components ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 CAD/AVL Components ..................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Onboard location sensor ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Cellular connectivity on vehicles ...................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Cellular reception and RTPI performance .................................................................................................................................................... 13 Other on-board sensors......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Vehicle assignments ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 14 Dispatch and driver schedule adherence feedback ................................................................................................................................. 14 Dispatching for headway-based schedules .................................................................................................................................................. 14 RTPI Components .............................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Arrival time prediction .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Service advisory publishing ................................................................................................................................................................................ 16 Mobile apps ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Popular Real-time Mobile Apps ......................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Real-time Passenger Information Components/Features.................................................................................................................... 20 Text/SMS ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 IVR (Interactive voice response) ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Websites & web-apps ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Subscription-based alerts system .................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Public (on-street) signage .................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 On-vehicle signage ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Stop announcements (AVA/Automated Voice Annunciation) ........................................................................................................... 24 Performance analysis and dashboards ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Example performance dashboards .................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Data & interface standards............................................................................................................................................................. 27 Benefits of interoperability ................................................................................................................................................................................. 27 Requirements for interoperability - Interface and data formats ...................................................................................................... 28 USDOT standards ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Other interfaces ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Open data: security and data ownership ...................................................................................................................................................... 32 Planning and design ...................................................................................................................................................... 34 Procurement ..................................................................................................................................................................