Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) National ITS Architecture Transit Guidelines Executive Summary National ITS Architecture Transit Guidelines Executive Summary Prepared for U.S. Department of Transportation Prepared by PB Farradyne Inc. January 1997 National ITS Architecture Transit Guidelines Executive Edition provides firm guidance and recommended practices for developing and deploying 1 INTRODUCTION transit ITS applications, and useful informa- tion (lessons learned) from transit agencies that have deployed ITS systems. The "If you are interested in improving Technical Edition also explains how to transit service, increasing ridership, apply the National ITS Architecture when assisting transit operators, and reducing developing and deploying transit ITS operating costs, you should read this applications. booklet.” How would you like to make your transit system safer and more attractive to 2 ISTEA customers? How would you like to use your transit resources more efficiently? By incorporating Intelligent Transportation Traffic congestion has become a major Systems (ITS) into your transit system and problem in many urban areas in the United applying the National ITS Architecture, this States. Congestion results in lost produc- can become a reality. If you are interested tivity, additional accidents, Increased fuel in improving transit service, increasing usage and air pollution, and less leisure ridership, assisting transit operators, and time. reducing operating costs, you should read this booklet. "... the construction of more roadways and roadway lanes was no longer This booklet is intended for transit feasible or credible in many areas as board members and senior manage- the primary solution to traffic ment. It provides general information on congestion.” ITS and the National ITS Architecture with respect to transit, and highlights the For many years, state highway benefits of each Section 2 briefly departments and localities responded to discusses the Intermodal Surface traffic congestion problems by simply and Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 effectively building more roadways and (ISTEA), which led to the National ITS roadway lanes. In the 1980’s, transpor- Program and the National ITS Architecture. tation planners began facing greater public Section 3 provides an overview of ITS, concerns about land use, highway safety, examples of ITS applications for transit, environmental sensitivity, and transpor- benefits of transit ITS, and examples of tation efficiency In addition, government where these benefits have accrued. budgets were shrinking. Construction of Section 4 discusses the National ITS additional lanes to handle increasing traffic Architecture, its benefits, and its importance. loads became more expensive due to higher land and roadway construction costsAs a result, the construction of more If you are interested in additional roadways and roadway lanes was no information on ITS and the National ITS longer feasible or credible in many areas Architecture with respect to transit, refer to as the primary solution to traffic congestion. the supplemental publication, National ITS Architecture Transit Guidelines Technical These concerns and problems led to Edition. The Technical Edition is written for passage of ISTEA, which signifies the transit project management and staff. It completion of the Interstate Highway National ITS Architecture Transit Guidelines Executive Edition Program. The primary purpose of ISTEA is make them more efficient and customer ". to develop a National Intermodal service-oriented. In addition to reducing Transportation System that is economically traffic congestion, ITS helps transportation efficient, environmentally sound, provides operators by improving transportation the foundation for the Nation to compete in system management, increasing system the global economy and will move people efficiency, and reducing operating costs and goods in an energy efficient manner.” ITS also increases safety, comfort, and convenience, making transportatron Provisions of ISTEA that promote and relate systems more attractive to customers, thus to transit include the following: increasing the potential for additional State and local governments are given ridership and revenue more flexibility in determining transpor- ITS applications existed prior to ISTEA. tation solutions, whether transit or Examples include bus electronic destina- highways. tion signs, bus tracking systems, and Multimodal and intermodal transpor- electronic fare boxes. However, ISTEA led tation systems are promoted. to the creation of a formal ITS program. ISTEA provides highway and transit funding flexibility, identical matching shares, additional use of the trust fund, Intelligent Transportation Systems -more than just highways and an expanded research program. I I Transit capital improvements are eligible for funding under the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and National Highway System (NHS). Private sector funding for transpor- tation improvements is allowed and encouraged. New technologies, such as ITS, are funded and strongly encouraged. The goals of ITS, as stated in the National ITS Program plan, echo the goals of ISTEA: 3 lNTELLlGENT Improve the safety of the Nation’s TRANSPORTATION surface transportation system SYSTEMS (ITS) Increase the operational efficiency of the Nation’s surface transportation system ITS makes transportation systems Reduce energy and environmental "more efficient and customer service- costs associated with traffic congestron oriented”. Enhance present and future produc- ITS offers an alternative to traditional tivity measures in addressing transportation problems and needs. It applies advanced technologies to transportation systems to National ITS Architecture Transit Guidelines Executive Edition l Enhance the personal mobility and the (for in-vehicle and in-terminal surveillance), convenience and comfort of the surface to major systems, such as transit vehicle transportation system tracking. Transit ITS applications typically fall into the APTS classification, but may l Create an environment in which the also fall under classifications such as development and deployment of ITS ATMS, ATIS and AVCS. The terms “transit can flourish ITS” and "APTS" are often used inter- ITS consists of six major components, or changeably. classifications, some of which overlap. The Transit ITS applications are often major ITS components are: categorized broadly under four different sets of services or technologies. The categories are fleet management, traveler information, electronic fare payment, and transportation demand management. Examples of transit ITS applications, under their respective categories, include the following: Fleet Management l Transit management centers l Transit vehicle tracking l Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) l Transit operations software (for fixed- route bus, paratransit, and rail) l Advanced Transportation Management Systems (ATMS) l Geographic Information Systems (GIS) l Automatic Passenger Counters (APC) l Advance Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) l Traffic signal preferential treatment l Commercial Vehicle Operations (CVO) l Vehicle diagnostics l Advance Vehicle Control Systems l Collision avoidance (AVCS) Traveler Information l Advanced Rural Transportation Systems (ARTS) l Pre-trip and en-route transit information l In-terminal/wayside information systems 3.1 Transit ITS Examples l In-vehicle information systems (auto- matic annunciation) l Multimodal traveler information “Transit ITS applications range from . video cameras (for in-vehicle and in- Electronic Fare Payment terminal surveillance), to... transit vehicle tracking. " l Automated fare payment systems l Multi-operator integrated fare systems There are many ITS applications for transit. Transit ITS applications range from basic electronic devices, such as video cameras National ITS Architecture Transit Guidelines Executive Edition Transportation Demand Management emergencies or crises (e.g., crimes in progress, medical emergencies). Transit l Real-time ridesharing vehicle tracking systems are being used by l Mobility manager several transit agencies in the United States. Over the past four years, their use l High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) facility operations has increased more than 200 percent. As of December 1996, there are approximately A few of these transit ITS applications are 58 transit vehicle tracking systems in briefly discussed below operation, under installation, or being planned. Transit Vehicle Tracking Pre-Trip Transit Information L - -I Transit vehicle tracking systems determine the real-time location of transit vehicles and Pre-trip information is information provided transmit the locations to the dispatch to the traveler prior to his or her departure. center where they appear on a For transit, pre-trip information may Include computerized map. Transit vehicle transit routes, schedules, fares, and other tracking employs Automatic Vehicle pertinent information. The most common Location (AVL) and Computer-Aided media employed are touch-tone telephones Dispatch (CAD) technologies. There are and human operators. Other systems use several different technologies that are used the Internet, pagers, personal communica- to perform the AVL function. These include tions devices, cable television, and kiosks. the Global Positioning System (GPS), Although currently not available,it is signpost/odometer, dead-reckoning, and a anticipated that interactive television will be combination of these.