Real Time Bus Information

1
Real Time Bus Information

• Walt Lenz, Safety Security Manager
• Cyndi Raskin-Schmitt, Manager of Communications
• Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority
• St. Petersburg, Florida

2
Agenda

• Walt Lenz
• Project Parameters
• Planning from the Start
• Things We Learned
• How it Works
• Cyndi Raskin-Schmitt
• Marketing
• Statistics

3
Project Parameters

• PSTA had a Motorola Automatic Vehicle Location
  system that needed to be replaced
• Replacement State-of-the-Art System
• New hardware, new customized software
• Computer Assisted Dispatching (CAD)
• Open data
• On board bus interfaces (farebox, destination
  signs)
• Passenger information including on board
  announcements, interactive voice response
  (IVR), digital signs, texting, website

4
Planning from the Start

• Partner with a vendor who had experience with
  these new technologies
• Include staff from all departments on the project
  management team including Bus Operators
• Have a full time project manager on staff who has
  a working knowledge of transit operations and
  acustomer service focus

5
Things We Learned

• Run a pilot program
• Nothing is one size fits all customize to make
  it fit your system
• Discourage vendor project team personnel changes
• Complex technologies lead to complex problems,
  beprepared to work it out

6
Things We Learned

• Give the project scheduling leeway it may take
  longer than you think. So, expect delays before
  moving forward.
• Deciding on an officiallaunch date

7
How it Works RidePSTA.net
8
Marketing Real Time

• Strategic launch date
• Involve passengers in a pilot
• Official launch when all components are working
• Components
• Real Time Bus Information Sign
• Blog
• Brochure
• Bus Ads
• Web Banners
• Intro Web Page

9
Real Time Bus Info Sign
10
RidePSTA Blog
11
Real Time Brochure
12
Bus Advertising
13
Bus Advertising
14
Website Introduction to Real Time
15
Website Developers Resources
16
Use Statistics