Cross-cutting Issues

Using ITS to assess mileage-based user fees is an opportunity to create an integrated driving experience if drivers opt-in, to develop more detailed and dynamic fee scales, and to present a more transparent revenue generation process.  SAIC is evaluating the use of an in-vehicle device to accomplish these goals as part of the MnDOT Minnesota Road Fee Test.  Previous research has identified barriers to driver acceptance regarding MBUF.  Preliminary evaluation activities suggest that using ITS, while it provides new opportunities to drivers and to state departments of transportation, may also introduce new barriers to acceptance by drivers who are concerned about privacy, cost, and fairness.  The Minnesota Road Fee Test begins in September of 2011, and this paper reports on initial observations and planned evaluation activities.  

MnDOT

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

Much has been written about how mass transit operators can use social media to benefit their agencies. This paper highlights some of these advantages but mostly focuses on some of the issues that keep organizations from getting started with social media. These may include concerns about technical requirements, the digital divide and access for people with disabilities, staff management, controlling the conversation, cyber-security, and record-keeping requirements. These concerns are examined and strategies for addressing them are presented, based largely on the experience of other transportation organizations in the U.S. and Canada.

Oak Square Resources, LLC

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) has led an effort to create a technology community for transit operators statewide.  To accomplish the task, DRPT with support from ITSVA formed a working group to; discuss, develop and promote the use of transit technology standards, act as a resource for the exchange of ideas and general technology discourse, promote the systems engineering process for the development, procurement and deployment of transit ITS projects and develop an on-line information tool that provides technology-related documents, links and exchange forum.  A goal was to achieve this in six months with cooperation from members from across the Commonwealth.  A good cross-section of transit providers was sought (urban, rural, small, large) with strong interest in technology and ITS.  Eleven initial participants became members of the Working Group.

Virginia DRPT

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

Starting in the early 2000s, many transit agencies in the US began to offer static information on mobile devices, including timetables, service alerts and trip planning.  At that time, there were a limited number of mobile devices on the market, meaning that some agencies could develop simple applications for these devices in-house without significant expenditures.  For example, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in the San Francisco Bay area developed its own applications for the Palm operating system (OS).  However, since that time, there has been an explosion of mobile devices on the market, making it virtually impossible for agencies to keep current on the types of devices and their specific requirements, and be able to develop, manage and maintain mobile applications for these devices.  This coupled with the fact that agencies can now provide more types of customer information caused agencies to look outside their organizations for third parties to assist them in providing information on mobile devices.  This paper will examine and document the state of the practice in the use and deployment of real-time transit information on mobile devices.

TranSystems Corporation

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida

This study analyzes the anticipated benefit of the expansion of existing incident management operations to 24 hours-a-day/7 days-a-week operations. The methodology is developed based on the assumption that the performance and nature of the proposed expansion would be equivalent to the current operations. The estimated benefit includes reduced delays, fuel consumptions, and emissions; and is expressed in monetary value for comparison with the associated costs of implementation.

University of Maryland

Office of CHART & ITS Development

Presented at the 18th World Congress on ITS, October 2011, Orlando, Florida