Commercial Operations

TransLink® is the San Francisco Bay Area’s largest Intelligent Transportation System initiative,
and first regional smart card system. It promises to integrate all fare structures and simplify the
method of fare collection across 26 transit agencies. In the near future, this regional smart card
system will be expanded to include other types of payment transactions including parking.
TransLink® reduces the agencies dependence on time-consuming cash collection systems and
has the ability to streamline travel for Bay Area commuters, especially those who use multiple
transit systems during a commute or trip. This paper presents the technical and institutional
challenges of the TransLink® system observed during the first phases of implementation,
including the challenges of launching, operating, and maintaining the system. Finally, the paper
will discuss the various steps taken to ensure the success of this regional smart card system.

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Kimley-Horn and Associates

Paper submitted for publication and presentation at the ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition

The paper provides background for and analysis of bus signal priority applications used
by the Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) along route 522, a rapid bus route.
Technical features of the application are discussed, and the functional benefits of the
technologies are calculated. The paper addresses two technology types—loop and
gps/spread spectrum—and discusses the operational constants under which these
technologies are applied.

Commuter Associates

Caltrans District 4

San Jose DOT

AC Transit

Paper submitted for publication and presentation at the ITS America’s 2009 Annual Meeting and Exposition

Providing a well-managed transportation infrastructure is an essential function of a public
transportation agency. Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) applications such as Advanced
Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) improve safety and fuel efficiency, and reduce
congestion. However, the software life-cycle costs of these systems often place them beyond
the reach of small and medium-sized agencies. This paper discusses the results of the first
implementation of the Intelligent Roadway Information System (IRIS) open ATMS outside
of Minnesota. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) IRIS demonstration
study implemented IRIS within a midsized urban/rural Caltrans district and two rural districts
that otherwise could not afford an ATMS. Results show dramatic cost savings compared with
an existing proprietary ATMS system, increased capabilities and reliability, and a number of
secondary benefits derived from this multi-agency collaborative approach.

AHMCT, University of California, Davis

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, May 3-5, 2010, Houston, Texas

The City of Lakewood, Managing Engineer Mr. Jim Richey, is in the process of a two phase,
three year long project to upgrade the existing traffic signal control system and
communications network to support IP-based communications. The approach taken for this
upgrade allowed for the system to remain functional throughout the phases which will span
three years.

TransCore ITS

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, May 3-5, 2010, Houston, Texas

This paper addresses in general the FTA’s current emphasis on transit circulators, and in that light the need for an analysis methodology and modeling tools that address technology focused transit circulator studies. As a focused topic, the paper approaches the alternatives analysis  requirements in terms of the functional ITS elements used by transit circulator technologies. The paper also includes a discussion of the nature of transport systems suitable for circulation system applications in urban centers and the diverse technology options that are available for transit circulator applications, including at-grade and aerial transit system alignments/technologies. To analyze the different ways in which these alternative technologies interact with other systems within the built environment – in particular the emulation of the traffic signal system and the associated operations of the traffic and pedestrian systems – special modeling tools are described that accomplish a true “apples-toapples” comparison between alternatives.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.

Presented at the ITS America Annual Conference and Exposition, May 3-5, 2010, Houston, Texas