Case Studies Transfer Protection is Essential for Spoke-Style Fixed Route Systems

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	Transfer Protection is Essential for Spoke-Style Fixed Route Systems

Transfer Protection is Essential for Spoke-Style Fixed Route Systems

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems Networks & Connectivity - Cellular
Applicable Industries	Cities & Municipalities Transportation
Applicable Functions	Business Operation Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases	Fleet Management Real-Time Location System (RTLS) Remote Asset Management
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration
Challenge	CityBus, a fixed route transit service in Lafayette, Indiana, faced significant challenges with their manual transfer methodology. The complexity of their interline system, where bus numbers change to align with new routes, caused confusion among riders and drivers. This confusion was exacerbated by the increasing city maintenance, making it difficult for dispatchers and drivers to manage transfer requests efficiently. On an average day, CityBus handled around 350 transfer requests for more than 485 riders, all recorded manually on paper. This manual process led to frequent miscommunications and inefficiencies, as drivers had to memorize requests and rely on radio communication to get vital transfer information. The lack of a streamlined system often resulted in drivers leaving too early or too late, affecting the on-time performance of the routes and causing dissatisfaction among riders. Read More
About Customer	CityBus is a fixed route transit service operating in Lafayette, Indiana, serving city commuters and students from Purdue University West Lafayette campus and Ivy Tech. The service operates a 'spoke style' system with a central hub that connects riders to various urban and rural destinations. The newly constructed transfer hub allows 10 buses to meet every half hour in the downtown core, providing climate-controlled waiting and rest areas for riders. Melissa Baldwin, the CAD/AVL Supervisor at CityBus, played a crucial role in developing a solution to address their scheduling and transfer process problems. The primary goal of CityBus is to deliver exceptional service to their ridership, making transfer priority essential. Read More
Solution	In 2009, CityBus implemented TripSpark Streets Fixed Route Software, led by Melissa Baldwin. This software enabled CityBus to schedule and dispatch vehicles more efficiently and develop an overview of operations to determine optimal routes and bus stop locations. Additionally, they added the Transfer Protection module to their system, designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing Streets solution. The new system digitized and automated the transfer process, allowing requests to be made through in-vehicle MDTs (Ranger Consoles) with touchscreen displays. Messages were sent via a cellular UDP interface, connecting buses and their drivers. The system could automatically approve transfer requests or allow dispatchers to intervene if necessary. Real-time data from AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) was pushed to the in-vehicle consoles, enabling drivers to make informed decisions about wait times. This automation significantly reduced radio traffic and improved the accuracy of transfer information, leading to better decision-making by drivers and increased rider satisfaction. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Real Time Analytics

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Networks & Connectivity - Cellular

Applicable Industries

Cities & Municipalities

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Business Operation

Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Fleet Management

Real-Time Location System (RTLS)

Remote Asset Management

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Challenge

CityBus, a fixed route transit service in Lafayette, Indiana, faced significant challenges with their manual transfer methodology. The complexity of their interline system, where bus numbers change to align with new routes, caused confusion among riders and drivers. This confusion was exacerbated by the increasing city maintenance, making it difficult for dispatchers and drivers to manage transfer requests efficiently. On an average day, CityBus handled around 350 transfer requests for more than 485 riders, all recorded manually on paper. This manual process led to frequent miscommunications and inefficiencies, as drivers had to memorize requests and rely on radio communication to get vital transfer information. The lack of a streamlined system often resulted in drivers leaving too early or too late, affecting the on-time performance of the routes and causing dissatisfaction among riders.

About Customer

CityBus is a fixed route transit service operating in Lafayette, Indiana, serving city commuters and students from Purdue University West Lafayette campus and Ivy Tech. The service operates a 'spoke style' system with a central hub that connects riders to various urban and rural destinations. The newly constructed transfer hub allows 10 buses to meet every half hour in the downtown core, providing climate-controlled waiting and rest areas for riders. Melissa Baldwin, the CAD/AVL Supervisor at CityBus, played a crucial role in developing a solution to address their scheduling and transfer process problems. The primary goal of CityBus is to deliver exceptional service to their ridership, making transfer priority essential.

Solution

In 2009, CityBus implemented TripSpark Streets Fixed Route Software, led by Melissa Baldwin. This software enabled CityBus to schedule and dispatch vehicles more efficiently and develop an overview of operations to determine optimal routes and bus stop locations. Additionally, they added the Transfer Protection module to their system, designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing Streets solution. The new system digitized and automated the transfer process, allowing requests to be made through in-vehicle MDTs (Ranger Consoles) with touchscreen displays. Messages were sent via a cellular UDP interface, connecting buses and their drivers. The system could automatically approve transfer requests or allow dispatchers to intervene if necessary. Real-time data from AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) was pushed to the in-vehicle consoles, enabling drivers to make informed decisions about wait times. This automation significantly reduced radio traffic and improved the accuracy of transfer information, leading to better decision-making by drivers and increased rider satisfaction.

Impact #1	Radio traffic has been greatly reduced, leading to more efficient communication.
Impact #2	Information accuracy has improved, eliminating the need for manual tracking on paper.
Impact #3	Drivers now have access to real-time data, enabling better decision-making regarding wait times.

Impact #1

Radio traffic has been greatly reduced, leading to more efficient communication.

Impact #2

Information accuracy has improved, eliminating the need for manual tracking on paper.

Impact #3

Drivers now have access to real-time data, enabling better decision-making regarding wait times.

Benefit #1	CityBus handles around 350 transfer requests for more than 485 riders daily.
Benefit #2	The new transfer hub allows 10 buses to meet every half hour in the downtown core.

Benefit #1

CityBus handles around 350 transfer requests for more than 485 riders daily.

Benefit #2

The new transfer hub allows 10 buses to meet every half hour in the downtown core.

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Overview

Transfer Protection is Essential for Spoke-Style Fixed Route Systems

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit