mta bus customer information systems
DESCRIPTION
Bus Customer Information Systems: MTA ’s BusTime Pilot ProgramPresented by Sunil Nair, Senior Director, Bus Customer Information Systems, MTAMTA BusTime represents a big step forward in how the MTA delivers technology to its customers.Join MTA’s Sunil Nair for a discussion on the MTA’s new pilot project, currently in operation on the B63 route in Brooklyn. The program uses Global Positioning System (GPS) hardware and wirelesscommunications technology to track the real-time location of buses. Sunil will explain how the MTA developed the system, which allows riders to find the real-time location of buses that will arriveat their stop, and is accessible via a desktop web map, a mobile web site on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, or other smartphones, and via SMS on all mobile phones.TRANSCRIPT
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Bus Customer Information Systems
Presentation to
New York Public Transit Association
June 1, 2011
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Agenda
• MTA Bus Time Goals
• Pilot Details
• Plans Ahead
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Bus CIS – Goals
• Provide passengers with accurate real-time information about the bus services
• Lower capital and operating costs and accelerate benefits from shared devices and infrastructure
• Deliver system based on Open Standards, Open Data (to developers), and Open Source (preferably)
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MTA Bus Time pilot : Progress over last 6 months
• B63 real time bus location pilot launched on Feb 1, 2011
• Received very favorably by bus riders; public; and developer community
• Proceeding with wider rollout in parallel with pilot
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Customers are enthused!
• “PLEASE do the MTA Bus Time project test on the B61 route!” - Georgia
• “I think it's great that you are doing this bustime pilot in Brooklyn. I have it bookmarked - on my Android - for the two nearest B63 stops to my house” – Gene
• I have to say, this program is one of the more significant improvements the MTA has introduced. Anyway, I'm just curious as to what the timeline is for getting all routes available on Bus Times? - Patrick
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Customers are enthused!
• “The new mobile website is fabulous! I use it ALL the time and have been blabbing about it to everyone I meet at the bus stop, on the bus, and in my neighborhood. It has changed my life” – Molly
• “This is the best thing in years from the MTA.... I used it for the first time today.... no more standing in the cold for an hour.... just pop it up and put my coat on when the bus is a few blocks away. More bus's soon please....B61 ?” - Andy
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App developers are energized – the power of data in open formats!
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• Interactive phone application
• NextBus® time-based predictions
• iPhone and Android apps
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MTA staff are getting their own ideas for data use/improvements
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• Improve Wait Assessment analysis (Operations Planning)
• Reduce bus bunching (DoB – Road Operations)
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Agenda
• MTA Bus Time Goals
• Pilot Details
• Plans ahead
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5 self-service channels
– Web browser– Mobile website – Text based cellphone– Quick Response code at bus stops – Store-front displays
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Web site access - map
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Web site access - search
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By intersection
By stop identifier
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Web site – bus stop display
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Mobile web access
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By intersection
By stop identifier
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For those without smartphones
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Text Messaging
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Quick Response code access
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Storefront access
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Demonstration involving storefront displays at 5 locations along route
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Usage (month average)
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• 1,674 daily requests (14,500 daily boardings)
• Website : 725 requests per day
• Mobile web site: 437 requests per day
• Text messages: 512 requests per day
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Agenda
• MTA Bus Time Goals
• Pilot Details
• Plans ahead
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Planning for Success
• Full engagement across stakeholders
• Following ITS methodology
• Completed Concept of Operations
• Committed to Open Data and Open Standards
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Stakeholders Engagement – Openness is key!!
• MTA and Agencies
• MTA Board
• Broader community
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Plans for 2011
Deploy Bus CIS to all Staten Island buses, including express, by the end
of 2011
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Plans for 2012 and beyond
Deploy Bus CIS to all buses across the MTA