Case Studies Akron METRO Enhances Paratransit Services with Ecolane DRT Implementation

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	Akron METRO Enhances Paratransit Services with Ecolane DRT Implementation

Akron METRO Enhances Paratransit Services with Ecolane DRT Implementation

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics Functional Applications - Fleet Management Systems (FMS) Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries	Transportation
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases	Fleet Management Predictive Maintenance Remote Asset Management
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	With a large demand for paratransit service, Akron METRO was looking to upgrade their inadequate paratransit and AVL software for a fleet of 77 paratransit buses and 4 supervisor vans. They were forced to outsource some rides to a local taxi company because they couldn’t handle the capacity. The previous outdated system was unable to handle their large volume of trips. A more agile and automated platform was needed. Read More
About Customer	Akron METRO provides an average of 1,000 paratransit trips per weekday in the Summit County area using primarily the Akron METRO fleet of 80 vehicles. Akron METRO also uses a subcontractor for overflow trips that cannot be provided on METRO vehicles. Ecolane DRT was deployed to focus on scheduling trips first to the Akron METRO fleet and then to the subcontracted or provider fleet. Read More
Solution	Ecolane was chosen as the software provider. It was installed in 2012. Since the original implementation, advances in Ecolane DRT have allowed the Akron METRO paratransit service to evolve and improve operationally. Ecolane DRT was implemented for the tasks of route optimization, schedule automation, dispatching, supervision and administration. The specific Ecolane solutions implemented were: Ecolane DRT scheduling and dispatching software, Ecolane Touch Screen MDT software with turn-by-turn navigation running on Android tablets (dedicated and contracted fleet), SMS text messaging, Ecolane Web Self Service Customer Scheduling, Advanced Ecolane Reporting System along with Ad-hoc Reporting Tool. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Predictive Analytics

Functional Applications - Fleet Management Systems (FMS)

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Industries

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Fleet Management

Predictive Maintenance

Remote Asset Management

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

With a large demand for paratransit service, Akron METRO was looking to upgrade their inadequate paratransit and AVL software for a fleet of 77 paratransit buses and 4 supervisor vans. They were forced to outsource some rides to a local taxi company because they couldn’t handle the capacity. The previous outdated system was unable to handle their large volume of trips. A more agile and automated platform was needed.

About Customer

Akron METRO provides an average of 1,000 paratransit trips per weekday in the Summit County area using primarily the Akron METRO fleet of 80 vehicles. Akron METRO also uses a subcontractor for overflow trips that cannot be provided on METRO vehicles. Ecolane DRT was deployed to focus on scheduling trips first to the Akron METRO fleet and then to the subcontracted or provider fleet.

Solution

Ecolane was chosen as the software provider. It was installed in 2012. Since the original implementation, advances in Ecolane DRT have allowed the Akron METRO paratransit service to evolve and improve operationally. Ecolane DRT was implemented for the tasks of route optimization, schedule automation, dispatching, supervision and administration. The specific Ecolane solutions implemented were: Ecolane DRT scheduling and dispatching software, Ecolane Touch Screen MDT software with turn-by-turn navigation running on Android tablets (dedicated and contracted fleet), SMS text messaging, Ecolane Web Self Service Customer Scheduling, Advanced Ecolane Reporting System along with Ad-hoc Reporting Tool.

Impact #1	Prior to Ecolane, Akron METRO used a legacy scheduling system. Under the old system, Akron METRO sent nearly 40% of the trips per day to the expensive subcontracted fleet. After Ecolane DRT was implemented, the number of trips sent to the overflow fleet each day was reduced to less than 10%, creating a substantial savings for Akron METRO.
Impact #2	Akron METRO was able to improve operations, efficiency and profitability while maintaining its mission to provide the best possible transportation service without sacrificing customer service and passenger safety.
Impact #3	Ecolane is the only software capable of generating improvements in productivity or rides per hour on the day of service, thus saving your agency money. Other software packages result in a 20% decrease on the day of service.

Impact #1

Prior to Ecolane, Akron METRO used a legacy scheduling system. Under the old system, Akron METRO sent nearly 40% of the trips per day to the expensive subcontracted fleet. After Ecolane DRT was implemented, the number of trips sent to the overflow fleet each day was reduced to less than 10%, creating a substantial savings for Akron METRO.

Impact #2

Akron METRO was able to improve operations, efficiency and profitability while maintaining its mission to provide the best possible transportation service without sacrificing customer service and passenger safety.

Impact #3

Ecolane is the only software capable of generating improvements in productivity or rides per hour on the day of service, thus saving your agency money. Other software packages result in a 20% decrease on the day of service.

Benefit #1	Akron METRO reduced the number of trips sent to the overflow fleet from nearly 40% to less than 10%.

Benefit #1

Akron METRO reduced the number of trips sent to the overflow fleet from nearly 40% to less than 10%.

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Overview

Akron METRO Enhances Paratransit Services with Ecolane DRT Implementation

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit