September 24, 2019 - Regular Meeting Agenda Item #64

Subject Real Time Bus Information Briefings None Contact and/or Presenter Information William Steele, Transit Division Manager, William.Steele@mymanatee.org, (941) 747-8621 x7440 Ryan Suarez, Transit Planning Section Manager, Ryan.Suarez@mymanatee.org, (941) 747-8621 x7622 Action Requested None. This is an informational item. Enabling/Regulating Authority None Required. No action to be taken by the Board. Background Discussion The Manatee County Public Works/Transit Division recently completed the installation and pilot testing for a new, state-of-the-art technology program. This technology is available to Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) passengers onboard the Transit/Trolley fleet and at Transit Stations for tracking of buses and trolleys, allowing them to monitor vehicle progress in real-time. Access to the real-time bus information is provided in several ways:

● Via a mobile device, ● On the internet, ● At bus stops, ● On-board the Bus/Trolley; and ● Dynamic Signage at Transit Stations.

Most importantly, the new technology system will calculate/predict the real-time arrival for each MCAT bus or trolley, at every bus stop in the transit system, which provides a significant advantage to MCAT passengers. In fact, MCAT passengers can now track their bus in real time which allows them to make informed decisions about when to arrive at their bus stop, and thereby minimize wait time. An additional feature to the system is an onboard bus infotainment system which will alert passengers to the next three bus stops along a route, allowing riders to prepare to de-board in advance of their desired bus stop.  This next stop information is visually displayed on a monitor onboard each vehicle and the automated system provides audible stop announcements as well. This new onboard infotainment system will also allow MCAT to provide important public service announcements and quickly issue service alerts for upcoming detours, suspension of regular service for a tropical storm event, or inform riders regarding upcoming service modifications.

Manatee County Government Administrative CenterHonorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers, First Floor

9:00 a.m. - September 24, 2019

With the addition of the new technology, passengers can now benefit from both MCAT mobile ticketing and real-time bus information, via their mobile device. They can use their smartphones to purchase a bus pass, use that smartphone as their "fare media," and receive advance text alerts on that same device regarding the arrival time of their bus-in real-time. The real-time bus information technology project is a dynamic project requiring the involvement of many different members of the Transit Division team, including: Information Technology/Business Services, Planning, Operations, and Logistics staff. The final product also reflects a concerted effort by multiple County Departments and Divisions including Information Technology, Public Works Department/Highway Division, and the County's Procurement Division. At the September 24th  Board of County Commissioner's meeting, Public Works/Transit Division staff will present the Real Time Bus Information (RTBI) system features and the customer-facing tools for monitoring fixed-route vehicle progress in real time. In addition, an MCAT bus fully equipped with the new RTBI system features will be parked at the Manatee County Administrative Center for viewing by members of the public, media, and the Board of County Commissioners --  all interested parties are welcome. County Attorney Review Not Reviewed (No apparent legal issues) Explanation of Other Reviewing Attorney N/A Instructions to Board Records None. This is an informational item. Cost and Funds Source Account Number and Name N/A Amount and Frequency of Recurring Costs N/A

Manatee County Government Administrative CenterHonorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers, First Floor

9:00 a.m. - September 24, 2019

9/23/2019

1

MCAT Real Time Bus Information

September 24, 2019

1

2

9/23/2019

2

3

4

9/23/2019

3

At Bus Stops

Website

MyStop Website

http://realtimemcat.availtec.com/InfoPoint/

5

6

9/23/2019

4

7

8

12 BUSRIDE.COM OCTOBER 2019

Partnering with Te~hnologies, Manatee County aims to compete technologically with the nation's largest urban agencies

The team at Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT), serving a total ridership of more than 2 million along Florida's West Coast, prides itself on providing its passengers the same high-level of technology and

transit access which is afforded to urban riders in places like Boston and New York City.

To that end, MCAT began working with Avail Technologies, a full­scale Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) solutions provider, in May 2018, to dramatically upgrade the agency's fleet tracking, passenger information, data processing and analytical tools.

"This kind of a system is a first for our agency, on fixed-route vehicles," said Trieu Nguyen, business services manager for Manatee County's transit division. "The agency did not previously have any real-time reporting or CAD/AVL capabi lities, so this was new for our staff and for our ridership."

Bus-in-a-box training unit allows bus operators to be trained on all aspects of system operation without having to be on a bus.

Making contact Initially, MCAT tried a pilot program

on five of its vehicles with another CAD/ AVL provider. After around nine months, it was clear toMCAT's team that the program was not working.

"We learned what we could expect in terms of workload, with this kind of system," said Ryan Suarez, planning manager at MCAT. "We also learned about the equipment and, of course, vendors and their ability to respond to our needs."

Returning to square one, the MCAT team tried a different approach. Rather than hire a consultant to write a technical spec for a system, setting out every last detail for a potential vendor to fulfill, the team opted for an outcome-based procurement.

"We asked, 'If we, as an agency, spell out every detail, what are we really asking these vendors to do?"' Suarez said. "If we wanted innovation, we needed to outline the outcomes we wanted to see, and let the vendors tell us how they would accomplish those outcomes."

The procurement process for this project was so novel that the agency won the "Innovation and Creativity Award" from the Florida Public Transportation Association in 2018.

MCAT's outcome-based procurement eventually selected its provider- Avail Technologies. Of the five proposals received, Avail's was closest to MCAT's specifications in terms of system features and integrational capabilities .

A unified platform Avail's myAvail system goes beyond CAD/AVL, providing role­

based user interfaces for bus operators, as well as dispatch, finance, and administration staff. Its capabilities include automatic mining and analysis of operational data, configurable performance metrics dashboards, pre-emptive notification of upcoming issues, as well as onboard, desktop, email and text alerts to avoid operational issues.

"These capabilities are a big part of MCAT positioning itself as the progressive county to bring technological innovation to the region," said Rick Spangler, chief technology officer at Avail .

Avail and MCAT are bringing the ITS deployment a step further with a real-time passenger information system. Suarez expressed that, after a recent onboard survey, MCAT officials found that the top desire among its riders was knowing exactly when the "next bus" is coming.

The A vail system is designed to answer that with real-time predictive arrival information,

available to riders via Avail's myStop app. Using the app or online interface, passengers will know how

long they need to wait at any stop throughout the system. Furthermore, MCAT is available to provide next-stop information to passengers onboard a bus via Avail and its passenger-information technology partner Message Point Media. "Knowing the exact location of our buses

affords the agency a lot of other operations opportunities," Suarez said. "That direct control allows us better headway management, customer service, and internal efficiencies, and also provides faster response times when incidents arise."

System deployment and training Outfitting its fleet with Avail's suite of technology proved more

difficult than originally expected, due to the variety of vehicle models in the MCAT fleet.

"It took a while, but we absolutely hired the right vendor when it comes to installation," Nguyen said. "Avail really showed their experience, sending their best field engineer down to help us with every step of the installation. He quickly diagnosed any issues we had on a given bus and got right to fixing it."

W hen inspecting Manatee, it was clear to Avail's team that the agency had investments in other technologies (like head-signs and fare collection) from which it was looking to get better and more accurate data.

"Knowing all of MCAT's integration requirements, we provided elements like a single point of login; automating the destination signs so drivers can be hands-free; and providing a greater level of information from the farebox, allowing for better data analytics," said Ken Bachman, project manager at Avail. "We know they invested lD

BUSRIDE.COM 13

in these products, so our system interfaces with those technologies and provides a much more streamlined, paperless operation."

Avail typically "trains the trainer," but MCAT officials said that the company went above and beyond and trained its operators and other agency staff directly in groups.

"We handled MCAT's training in one-on-one sessions with dispatchers, road supervisors, planners and other groups, delivering what we call our B.l.B. - a 'Bus In a Box,'" said Steven Economos, systems engineer with Avail. "That box includes all the components an operator would need to recognize and know how to use, packed in a nice package that sits quite well on top of a desk."

"They have been very flexible, and they have adapted to us, as much as we pushed them," Suarez added. "We don't get the same level of customer service from other vendors and integrators, even for menial issues. That has been very important to us, and it validates our selection of Avail as our vendor."

In addition to the initial training, Avail has a dedicated FASTTM Team (Follow-on Adoption Services and Training) which takes over after the project technically closes . The FASTTM Team provides follow-up training efforts, regularly asking MCAT about areas where the age ncy still has questions about usability and system capabilities.

Pushing MCAT forward Suarez said that the demand for this type of information was clearly

present from MCAT passengers, and that the system's capabilities will drive ridership to the agency.

14 BUSRIDE.COM OCTOBER 2019

"Even though the bus might be running later than a new customer might think, at least they know where the bus is.,'' he said. "That gives users a measure of confidence that overcomes some of transit's barriers to entry."

"Avail has a motto: 'Customers for life,' Spangler added. "The industry trend continues to be that after five or six years; agencies are looking to replace these systems. But Avail has customers that have been using our technology going on 19 years now- and Manatee has a vision to buy into that concept. Their agency knows that it's not just about the tools a vendor provides - it's about the services

and outcomes they help you provide your

ridership." 0

M.1natcc.: .-,~.J. ('on nt

Where's My Bus? TRACK YOUR BUS

PLAN YOUR TRIP GET TEXT ALERTS

,_ _ ..... · :.-

- ............ -

facebookl.ridemcat

•

' Downl A oad on the

PP Store

~· GETITON GooglePia

2 'l - EJI.S'T ~,.rJEt~'TO 3 - w.~'T££ ,_'l[f.t~ll£