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TripSpark Streets ITSPositioning Document

Version 0.3 • September 2016

Connecting People, Places & Communities

TripSpark Streets ITS

Positioning Document ▪ Version 0.1


Positioning Document ▪ Version 0.3Page 1 of 3232

T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Revision History...........................................................................................................................................2

Supplemental Documents...........................................................................................................................2

Customer Challenges...................................................................................................................................3

Target Buyers..............................................................................................................................................3

Business Decision Maker.........................................................................................................................3

Technical Decision Maker........................................................................................................................3

Other Decision and Influencers...............................................................................................................3

Positioning Statement.................................................................................................................................4

Business Benefits.........................................................................................................................................4

Key Features and Benefits.........................................................................................................................10

Competitive Differentiators.......................................................................................................................19

Potential Objections..................................................................................................................................21

Product Descriptions.................................................................................................................................23

25-Word (Primary Message)..................................................................................................................23

50-Word (Product Description).............................................................................................................23

100-Word (Expanded Product Description)...........................................................................................23

Competition...............................................................................................................................................24

RouteMatch Software............................................................................................................................24

Company Profile................................................................................................................................24

Selling against Routematch...............................................................................................................27

Trade Secret. Confidential and Proprietary. Copyright © 2016 TripSpark Technologies, its subsidiaries and affiliates. This document is solely for the benefit of the intended recipient(s). Disclosure of this document to third-parties requires written consent of TripSpark Technologies. All rights reserved.



R E V I S I O N H I S T O R Y

Version Date Notes Updated By0.1 21-July--16 Initial draft release based on Streets 6.3 and

Mobility 10.03T. Brusse

0.2 25-July-16 Updated Competitive Differentiators with respect to wireless data costsAdded competitive information regarding RouteMatch

T. Brusse

0.3 14- Sept-16 Incorporated additional content provided by Gillian Fisher into Competitive Differentiators and Potential Objections.

T. Brusse

S U P P L E M E N T A L D O C U M E N T S

TripSpark MyRide Positioning Document


https://www.ourvolaris.com/sites/Companies/TST/_layouts/15/WopiFrame2.aspx?sourcedoc=%2Fsites%2FCompanies%2FTST%2FShared%20Documents%2FProduct%20Management%2FFixed%20Route%2FMyRide%20%20Positioning%20(1).docx&action=view&wdparaid=226E8C01



C U S T O M E R C H A L L E N G E S

Many small to medium transit agencies require advanced technology to help them operate efficiently as well as meet customer expectations with respect to service and passenger information in order to maintain and grow ridership. Further, government organizations are mandating on board stop announcements to ensure equitable access to riders with special needs. There is a strong desire to automate these announcements and implement other automated and communication functionality in order to remove cognitive load and distractions from drivers to ensure safe operations.

Various transit technologies have sophisticated functionality to meet the needs of much larger transit operations and as such, are cost prohibitive and overly complex for the smaller agencies. Of further challenge to the small to mid-size transit agencies is the lack of resources with some smaller agencies only have a handful of people that perform multiple roles. Often they do not have IT expertise within the transit agency and have to rely on outside resources to provide this skill set. They require transit technology that is easy to deploy, operate, manage and support.

REFERENCES

TCRP Report 76: Guidebook for Selecting Appropriate Technology Systems for Small Urban and Rural Public Transportation Operators (2002)

T A R G E T B U Y E R S

BUSINESS DECISION MAKER

TBC

Start writing here…

[Identify the role (e.g., CEO, Operations Manager) and the specific problems faced by this target buyer]

TECHNICAL DECISION MAKER

TBC

Start writing here…

[Identify the role (e.g., IT Manager) and the specific problems faced by this target buyer]

OTHER DECISION AND INFLUENCERS

Other departments within a transit agency may be involved in the decision process either directly or by influencing decision makers. They may be as follows:

Operations (dispatchers, supervisors and operators) will have interest in monitoring and communication functions.

Planning will be interested in data that can be used for analyzing and improving service performance (e.g., schedule adherence, passenger counts, running time).




Information technology will be concerned with potential procurement and support of new technology such as servers, workstations, system integrations, databases and software.

Customer service will be interested in the availability of real-time and historical data for addressing customer questions and complaints.

Maintenance will have an interest in the new equipment on vehicles they may be required to support (e.g., internal signs), and maintenance related data collected by the system either directly or through operator vehicle inspections.

REFERENCES

Transportation Research Board, TCRP Synthesis 73 – AVL Systems for Bus Transit: Update (2008)

P O S I T I O N I N G S T A T E M E N T

For small to mid-sized transit agencies (10 to 150 vehicles)

Who want an affordable technology that allows them to operate efficiently and attract ridership,

Streets is an intelligent transportation system (ITS)

That allows agencies to effectively plan, monitor, communicate and improve service delivery

Unlike other ITS providers

Our product is an end-to-end turnkey solution designed and built by TripSpark to specifically to meet the unique needs of resource constrained agencies and harshness of public transit environments. It allows them to position themselves to scale and add functionality effectively. Supported by a team of experienced professionals, agencies can rely on a single solution provider to help them manage through implementation, integrate with other hardware and/or software, and provide ongoing support.

B U S I N E S S B E N E F I T S

The value in implementing Streets comes from the ability for transit agencies to view, collect and use comprehensive and accurate data to support operational control, in planning to improve service, to meet passenger expectations for real-time information, and position an agency to scale its operations efficiently in the future.

Improved On time performance

Research has shown that implementation of an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) can increase on on-time performance by 9 to 23 percent, and improve headway consistency, thus increasing overall service reliability and efficiency of transit operations. Using Streets Dispatch, dispatchers can monitor the fleet in real time and be alerted if a bus is running early (hot) or late. This allows them to address situations proactively by telling buses to hold at a stop or to slow down.

Streets Mobility makes drivers continuously aware of their status with respect to schedule, further contributing to on-time performance and reducing the incidence of schedule alerts sent to dispatch.




TripSpark has integrated Streets with Transit Signal Priority (TSP) systems at agencies that have adopted this technology to mitigate the impact of traffic lights on schedule adherence. Buses equipped with TSP emitters trigger an increase the length of a green light or shorten the length of a red light when behind schedule.

More Effective Dispatching and Communication

Streets increases dispatch efficiency and reduces the cognitive load such that a dispatcher can handle a larger fleet or be able to allocate time to other value-added tasks.

With Streets, dispatchers and supervisors have improved ability to know where buses are at all times. It provides situational awareness though an AVL view and alerts such that dispatchers can proactively address operational issues and delays such as accidents or vehicle breakdowns. Having both real-time and historical data at their fingertips allows dispatchers to respond to customer inquiries and evaluate the legitimacy of customer complaints.

Text messaging capability not only reduces radio chatter and improves communication clarity and efficiency between dispatchers and drivers, it provides a historical record of communication. Dispatchers can send canned or free form text messages to drivers however drivers are limited to canned responses to reduce distractions. Dispatchers can also communicate directly to passengers about matters such as service disruptions by sending out ad hoc messages that will be visible on the internal bus signs and heard over bus speakers, eliminating the need to convey the information through the driver.

Transfer protection functionality eliminates the need for dispatchers to coordinate transfers. Instead, Streets can analyze the timing logistics of the transfer and communicate appropriately to the drivers of the buses involved.

Increase Driver and Passenger Safety and Security

Streets contributes to safety and security in many ways. The most obvious is that drivers can discreetly trigger a covert silent alarm which will immediately be brought to the attention of dispatch who, in turn, can notify authorities with the exact location of the bus. The events on the bus will be recorded where buses are equipped with an on-board camera system, providing evidence of the incident. Research has revealed that location-based silent alarms serve as an effective crime deterrent, with one study citing that passenger assaults dropped by one-third over a five year period. Another study found that the presence of a camera system increased passengers’ sense of security, especially at night.

Streets is designed to minimize driver distractions as research has shown that cognitively distracted drivers have slower reaction times and may fail to adequately monitor their driving environment. In accordance with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration guidelines, the Ranger display is disabled when a bus is in motion. The content on the display while in motion is limited to only what is required to maintain on time service. Further, where automated visual and audio announcements are installed, there is no longer reliance on the drivers to make these announcements.

More Effective Scheduling and Planning

Performance and passenger count data collected through Streets enables agencies to improve transit planning such that they can reduce costs while improving customer service. The data can show




underutilized stops or runs that could be eliminated and highlight areas where there is heavy passenger loads that could use additional service. Improving service efficiency by maximizing run versus dwell times can have a positive environmental impact by minimizing emissions.

Studies have revealed that agencies have realized reductions in bus delays between 15 and 80 percent, were able to shorten scheduled time for over 70% of routes while improving service by adding time for 22%, and some have even been able to either reduce fleet size up to 5% or provide the same level of service to increased ridership without additional vehicles, employees or overtime - all of which contributes to lower operating costs.

Improved Customer Relations and Ridership

Implementation of ITS has shown to improve customer relations and ridership by providing enhanced service quality along with timely and reliable information.

As mentioned previously, agencies can use data from Streets to shorten route schedule times. Studies have indicated that implementation of ITS can translate to passenger travel time savings between 2 and 18 percent. Further, it mitigates buses arriving early at stops which in turn, can reduce the number of customer complaints by ~25% thus reducing call center load. Where customers do call with a complaint, the historical playback feature is extremely useful for investigating the validity of the complaints.

Providing real-time next bus predictions to customers when planning a trip and during travel can contribute to customer satisfaction and increased ridership by reducing perceived and actual wait times, improving perceived reliability, lowering anxiety and elevating a sense of safety, and presenting modern image. With bus location data and schedule status information available online with MyRide, customers are better able to manage their own time and coordinate travel (Refer to TripSpark MyRide Positioning Document for additional information). There are anecdotal stories that businesses near bus stops have seen a rise in patronage after the introduction of real-time passenger information systems.

Wayside signs providing real-time information at transfer centers and bus stops are another communication method that is popular with customers, especially during extreme weather conditions. On board automated stop announcements and signs help to address the requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, as well as help passengers in unfamiliar areas reach their destination. Dispatchers can use this same on board system to make ad hoc announcements such as informing passengers of delays.

Accurate and Efficient Data Collection and Reporting

The transit industry recognizes that data created by ITS is a valuable resource for generating information to aid in transit planning and management. A paper by the Intelligent Transportation Society of America addressed three main types of data: CAD/AVL, APC (Automated Passenger Counting) and Advanced Fare Collection – all of which are collected and maintained by Streets. The paper categorizes this use of this data as follows:

1. Real-time Operational Control – to highlight anomalies to dispatch and support decision making.2. Line Management – such as operator performance analysis and supervision, and daily service

reviews.3. Scheduling – as discussed above (More Effective Scheduling and Planning).




4. Service/Operations Planning – includes continuous monitoring of performance (e.g., schedule adherence, running times, passenger loads), typically against KPIs and industry benchmarks. The data is utilized to support shorter term, tactical analysis (e.g., appropriate bus shelter locations) and longer term, strategic analysis (e.g., major network redesigns).

5. Corporate Monitoring and Reporting – as an example, regular, periodic reports for management and executive leadership, the general public and bodies such as the National Transit Database.

6. Exploratory/Data Mining – analyzing the ITS data along with data from other sources (e.g., traffic, crime, social media).

Easy to Use and Maintain

A study by the Transportation Research Board highlighted that smaller transit agencies often do not have their own IT resources and find it difficult to access those resources from the broader government entity. This leaves them to rely on internal resources who may be interested in technology but not necessarily appropriately trained. In mid-size agencies, where IT staff may exist, they often are not equipped or trained to manage complex ITS technologies. Recognizing this, Streets has been designed specifically to meet the needs of small to mid-sized transit agencies rather than simply scaling down or removing functionality of a large, complex system. In addition to managing and executing the implementation of Streets, TripSpark’s deployment team are able to provide guidance on an agency’s IT infrastructure based on near term goals and strategic vision. As part of TripSpark’s support and maintenance, TripSpark Customer Care personnel will perform all software updates for agencies.

Smaller agencies frequently are staffed by generalists that serve multiple roles and may have been promoted up through the transit agency versus dedicated specialists that have undergone formal education. For this reason, TripSpark worked closely (and continues to do so) with target users to ensure that Streets not only met their functional needs but also provided optimum usability. Although TripSpark provides multiple resources to educate and inform end users, the goal is that Streets be intuitive for users.

Supports State of Good Repair

Streets helps agencies maintain a safe, efficient and reliable transit service. The maintenance department of a Pennsylvania transit service provider reported a 69 percent decrease in in-service breakdowns attributable to pre-trip inspections by drivers on MDTs. Streets also monitors the status of on board equipment, automatically sending an email when an issue is detected. If drivers detect an issue with their vehicle, they can notify dispatch through the Ranger. Some agencies have drivers – the eyes on the streets - monitor the state of stops and shelters, again notifying dispatch via the Ranger. One agency realized significant savings by having drivers trigger an event notifying dispatch when trash cans were full rather than having a dedicated resource visit all trash cans on a regular basis.

Scalable Turnkey Solution with Single Point of Contact

TripSpark provides an end-to-end, turnkey solution that allows small to mid-sized transit agencies to manage all required aspects of their transit system. This includes back office systems, on board hardware and software, and multiple passenger information systems. Agencies can choose to implement core capabilities then expand as their needs change and grow. For agencies that find




themselves in need of more advanced back office capabilities, Streets can integrate seamlessly with systems from our sister company, Trapeze, to provide optimized run cutting and blocking or enhanced operations and workforce management. In this scenario, TripSpark maintains responsibility for the implementation and support for the entire solution. Streets can also be integrated with fleet management software from another sister company, AssetWorks.

Integration with Existing 3rd Party Systems

Often agencies have invested in other ITS components, such as fare boxes, or would like to piggyback on other public agency initiatives, such as transit signal priority (TSP). Streets has integrated with many 3 rd party systems resulting in significant cost avoidance for the transit agencies and increased value of the total solution. In situations where Streets has not previously integrated with a 3rd party system, TripSpark has the access, expertise and agility to work with an agency to develop this integration, providing a positive overall return on investment.

REFERENCES

Benefits of AVL/CAD from Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), IP Address http://floridaapts.lctr.org/E-library%20update%20in%20website%5CBenefits%20of%20AVL.pdf. Last access 20 June 2016, Florida Advanced Public Transportation Systems Program website.

Benefits of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), IP Address http://www.its.dot.gov/factsheets/pdf/JPO_BenefitsITS_v4.pdf . Last access 16 June 2016, United States Department of Transportation website.

Bertini, Robert; Monsere, Christopher; and Yin, Thareth: Benefits of Intelligent Transportation Systems Technologies in Urban Areas: A Literature Review (2005)

Derby, Ann and Kijowski, Jan: Real-Time Benefits, Mass Transit Magazine (2014).

Hemily, Brendon: The Use of Transit ITS Data for Planning and Management, and Its Challenges; a Discussion Paper (2015), IP Address http://www4.uwm.edu/cuts/trb/conf/papers/ITS2.pdf. Last access 5 July 2016, University of Wisconsin website.

Intelligent Transportation Systems Benefits, Costs, and Lessons Learned - 2014 Update Report (2014), IP Address http://www.itsknowledgeresources.its.dot.gov/its/bcllupdate/pdf/BCLL_2014_Combined_JPO-FINAL.pdf. Last access 23 June 2016, U.S. Department of Transportation website.

Intelligent Transportation Systems Benefits, Costs, and Lessons Learned - 2014 Update Report, June 2014, IP Address http://www.itsknowledgeresources.its.dot.gov/its/bcllupdate/pdf/BCLL_2014_Combined_JPO-FINAL.pdf. Last access 23 June 2016, U.S. Department of Transportation website.

TCRP Synthesis 35: Information Technology Update for Transit (2000), IP Address http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tsyn35.pdf. Last access 5 July 2016,

United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Visual-Manual NHTSA Driver Distraction Guidelines for In-Vehicle Electronic Devices, Federal Register, Volume 78, Number 81, 26 April 2013, IP Address http://www.distraction.gov/downloads/pdfs/visual-


http://www.distraction.gov/downloads/pdfs/visual-manual-nhtsa-driver-distraction-guidelines-for-in-vehicle-electronic-devices.pdf

http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/tcrp/tsyn35.pdf

http://www.itsknowledgeresources.its.dot.gov/its/bcllupdate/pdf/BCLL_2014_Combined_JPO-FINAL.pdf




http://www4.uwm.edu/cuts/trb/conf/papers/ITS2.pdf

http://www.its.dot.gov/factsheets/pdf/JPO_BenefitsITS_v4.pdf

http://floridaapts.lctr.org/E-library%20update%20in%20website%5CBenefits%20of%20AVL.pdf



manual-nhtsa-driver-distraction-guidelines-for-in-vehicle-electronic-devices.pdf. Last access 23 June 2016, Official US Government Website for Distracted Driving.


http://www.distraction.gov/downloads/pdfs/visual-manual-nhtsa-driver-distraction-guidelines-for-in-vehicle-electronic-devices.pdf



K E Y F E A T U R E S A N D B E N E F I T S

The following table does not address all the many features of TripSpark’s fixed route solution but rather focuses on features that address important customer buying criteria, differentiate Streets from the competition and articulates key product characteristics. Basic features that would typically be included in any fixed route solution are generally not covered.

Feature Benefits

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT

STREETS SCHEDULE, STREETS DISPATCH & STREETS ADMIN

Easy to use, intuitive user interfaces

Streets provides multiple features to make it easy to for planners and dispatchers to learn and use the applications, make efficient use of their time and prevent errors.

Existing schedules can be copied and modified to quickly create new schedules. Drag and drop functionality minimizes the steps required to build schedules and assign work to drivers, preventing errors such as inadvertently “double-booking” resources.

Right click menus and multiple paths of navigation provide the flexibility to satisfy different work flows and user preferences.

Simple data import functionality

Streets reduces manual entry by helping agencies import data from existing sources. Examples include employee and vehicle data, bus stops and peripheral triggers/actions, and schedules from TSDE files.

Easy interlining Interlining allows agencies to combine two or more independent routes into one operational schedule, providing a number of benefits to transit agencies, drivers and riders. It allows the use of the same vehicle and/or operator on more than one route without extended recovery time or returning to the garage, minimizing vehicle requirements. Drivers have variety in their work so they are not always driving the same roadways. Interlining is convenient for passengers who would normally transfer between the two routes that are combined.




Feature Benefits

Worry free schedule postings

Streets checks schedules for errors when they are ready to be posted, highlighting the exact issues. Planners can click on the warning, taking them to the window where the issue can be corrected removing the need for guesswork and navigation.

Agencies can be confident that drivers will always have the current schedule since Ranger checks to see if there is a new schedule each time a driver logs on.

Customizable canned text messages

Agencies can create messages meaningful to their operation they use for communication between dispatchers and drivers. Dispatchers can elect to send messages to one, a few or all of the vehicles in the fleet. This makes for efficient communication, reduces radio chatter and provides a log of information exchange.

Dispatchers have the ability to send free form text and responses to limit driver distraction.

Pre-configured and Ad hoc announcements

Agencies can provide greater accessibility and satisfy ADA requirements using automated visual and audio announcements. These announcements can easily be set up to announce next stop or other information based on location using text-to-speech or recorded audio.

For situations when agencies need to communicate to their customers – for example, to notify them of an incident impacting transit service, - dispatchers can remotely send announcements to one or more buses. This ensures customers remain informed while letting the driver safely focus on driving the bus.

Flexible event creation, notification and management

Streets provides a number of system-generated (i.e., automatic) events that agencies can select and configure to meet their operational practices. They can also create an unlimited number of user generated events to meet their unique needs and practices.

Agencies can define the criticality of individual events, specify an escalation path, set up email notification along with other relevant configuration options. They can identify events to be addressed by dispatch versus those that’s purpose is to be saved for future data analysis. For each event, Streets maintains the vehicle’s location, heading and speed, along with other relevant information.




Feature Benefits

Integrated absence management

Streets allows dispatchers quickly handle last minute driver absences, helping to prevent late starts. When drivers are marked absent, their work is automatically unassigned. Dispatchers can easily see what drivers are available and easily drag and drop work to assign to an available driver. If dispatchers forget to address unassigned work, they will be alerted.

Visual headway monitoring Route Monitor provides a visual tool that allows dispatchers to quickly see if there are bus starting to bunch and take preemptive action. Bus bunching results in more frequent passenger overloads, which can necessitate provision of additional service, holding of vehicles, stop-skipping, leap-frogging or short turning. Ensuring service regularity benefits passengers through reduced waiting times and uncertainty and agencies through lower operating costs and potentially, capital costs for spare vehicles.

Transfer protection Transfer protection improves transfer efficiency and reduces passenger waiting times leading to increased customer satisfaction.

Upon a driver requesting a transfer via Ranger, Streets automatically evaluates the feasibility of a requested transfer. Real time data is used to assess the arrival status of the transit vehicles involved and transmit a hold message to the receiving vehicle if the transfer is approved, a Hold message is sent to the receiving vehicle, and otherwise, the requesting vehicle is notified that the transfer is not possible. Dispatchers have the ability to intervene and override the decision.

Detour management Streets supports both impromptu detours and planned service interruptions. In a situation where a bus is forced to take an alternate route because of a situation such as an accident, dispatchers can log this detour such that there is a record. For detours for which there is advanced warning, planners can easily create a service interruption without going through the effort of posting a new schedule. Dispatchers will see details of current and future service interruptions and drivers will be presented with the altered work on their Ranger, ensuring they follow the correct route.




Feature Benefits

Impromptu service creation

Dispatchers can quickly add extra service that is not part of the scheduled service to address situations such as meeting excessive demand. As with normally scheduled service, Streets captures all the typical data required for reporting.

Monitor non-fixed route vehicles

Agencies can choose to install location messaging units (LMU) on supervisor or other vehicles such that they can be viewed in Streets Dispatch AVL. This can be helpful when dispatch wants to locate a supervisor closest to a particular location, for instance.

Demand response vehicles using Ranger MDTs can also be viewed in the AVL screen, providing a location overview of the entire transit fleet.

Simple driver and vehicle coordination

There is no need to coordinate between drivers and vehicles. When a driver logs on to a bus’s Ranger, their work (manifest) is automatically available on the Ranger. If they find, for example, that the bus is not road worthy during their pre-trip inspection, the driver can simply log on to a Ranger on different bus and continue on with their shift. Similarly, a driver can switch buses mid-way through the day – moving from a full size bus in rush hour to a cutaway during not peak periods.

Remote driver logon/off If a driver fails to log on to Ranger, important data will not be collected, automated functions such as next stop announcements and headsign changes will not occur and riders will not see their bus on MyRide. To prevent this, dispatchers can detect if a driver has failed to log on and log them on remotely. Similarly, if a driver fails to log off, dispatch can do it on their behalf.

Integration with Trapeze FX and OPS

Some agencies find that Streets is almost the perfect solution for their operations but they want the more advanced and automated scheduling functionality typically used by large transit agencies. Streets is able to import a schedule created in FX.

Streets is also integrated with OPS benefiting agencies that need more powerful workforce management functionality.

Server monitoring tool Continuity of service is critical to transit agencies. If an issue with a server is detected, the system will automatically notify TripSpark and anyone else designed by the agency such that the issue can be addressed promptly.




Feature Benefits

ON BOARD TECHNOLOGY

RANGER WITH STREETS MOBILITY SOFTWARE & PERIPHERALS

Ruggedized hardware designed for the harsh transit environment

Rangers are designed operate normally in the extreme cold in winter to soaring heat in the summer. They can be exposed to vibration, shock, dust, water and knocking by unruly passengers without risk of failure as experienced by agencies that have relied on Rangers for years (some 12+ years) at a total cost of ownership lower than consumer devices. Further, Rangers have internal antennas that contribute to reliability, simplify installation, and deter tampering.

Hardwired vehicle area network

Unlike wireless connections such as Bluetooth, physical connections provide extremely high reliability, ensuring continuity and protection against data loss. Rangers provide numerous I/Os that facilitate wired connections with multiple other devices.

Single point of login A single point for operator login to integrated onboard equipment saves time and reduces the potential for inaccurate logins.

Pre-trip inspections and maintenance events

Pre-trip inspections and the ability for drivers to send a maintenance event (e.g., low fluids, burnt out light) in real-time can significantly contribute to reducing in-service breakdowns and vehicle downtime.

Route and Schedule Adherence (RSA) evaluated on the Ranger

Monitoring and evaluating RSA on the Ranger increases accuracy and reliability, and ensures drivers always are aware of their current status.

Headsign integration Rangers can automatically trigger the changing of a bus’ headsign when changing routes or directions, eliminating the need for the bus driver to remember this task.

Pressing of the emergency button can also trigger the headsign to read “Call Police”, covertly notifying people outside of the bus that there is an emergency on board.

Automated audio and visual ‘Next Stop’ announcements

Streets helps agencies comply with accessibility legislation (e.g., ADA) without encumbering the driver with the responsibility of announcing next stops or answering rider inquiries.




Feature Benefits

Ridership monitoring Automatic Passenger Counters (APC) allows for the cost-effective collection of comprehensive passenger boarding and alighting data with consistent reliability. Given a measured accuracy of over 95%, agencies can rely on this data for reporting and identifying potential service improvements.

Agencies that do not have APCs can still collect valuable data by having drivers enter the number of passengers boarding and alighting on the Rangers’.

Peripheral integration Agencies can benefit from TripSpark’s experience in integrating 3rd party devices. This positions agencies to be able to easily add new functionality to their ITS as their needs change and funding becomes available.

Rangers can integrate with equipment already on board, such as wheelchair lifts and bike racks, giving agencies the ability to collect and analyze usage data.

ON BOARD TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT

XMOBILE MANAGER (XMM)

Secure, remote updating of on board devices

XMM allows agencies to configure and update in-vehicle devices over the air (OTAP) saving both time and money. The ability to update the entire fleet simultaneously avoids the need to coordinate a visit to each bus to perform manual updates. If a critical issues arises, it can be handled effectively, minimizing downtime.

Updates and file transfers are made with confidence since XMM monitors progress and, if interrupted, XMM will restart the process from the last step rather from the beginning, saving both time and potentially air time charges (for emergency updates that cannot wait for vehicles to be within WiFi coverage).

Continuous monitoring XMM monitors for specific events (a broken APC for example) and automatically informs technical support staff though email, allowing them to address issues in a timely manner.




Feature Benefits

Suite of diagnostic and troubleshooting tools

Support staff can remotely capture screen shots with XMM to aid in real-time troubleshooting. This functionality is also useful when training new drivers as a trainer can remotely view what drivers see on the Ranger. Log downloads and an event viewer, that presents a timeline view, supports expedient troubleshooting and issue resolution.

XGate analyses data logs and provides in-depth statistics and troubleshooting information that allow system problems to be addressed immediately. Coverage maps are useful for showing agencies where there may be gaps in their region’s cellular network.

Remote log retrieval In the event of an emergency, high resolution GPS and speed logs can be retrieved remotely through XMM. This can provide second by second data for a requested time period offering greater visibility into location and speed prior to, during and after the emergency.

Comprehensive record keeping and reporting

Record keeping is efficient and accurate as XMM tracks what equipment is installed on each bus. It automatically catalogues all programs sent to Rangers so agencies have knowledge of current status and update history allowing them to quickly determine which units are due for an upgrade.

Reports provide access to a wide variety of useful information is available such as devices information, software versions, update history, memory usage and data transfers.

PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEMS

MYRIDE WEB/SMS/IVR & SIGNAGE

Real-time passenger information system

MyRide reduces wait times and increases customer satisfaction by making real-time transit information accessible on any web-enabled device, by SMS or over the phone. Advanced trip planning capability allows riders to enter a destination address or a point of interest to find the option that best meets their needs. Refer to TripSpark MyRide Positioning Document for additional information.






Feature Benefits

Variety of real-time passenger information displays

A selection of LCD and LED signs in various sizes are available to provide real-time bus departure information for passengers in transit centers and bus stops. Having this information is known to reduce perceived wait times and thus contribute to increasing customer satisfaction. Agencies can provide accessibility to visually impaired passengers, aiding in ADA compliance, by selecting one of the signs that has audio text-to-speech capability.

COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT

XGATE COMMUNICATION SOFTWARE

Guaranteed secure and fast message delivery

XGate ensures that messages to and from the in-vehicle devices always reach their destination in that order that they were sent, with the exception of messages designated a priority. Messages are encrypted and pushed – a more efficient and secure method of data transfer than polling – at a rate of 3,000 messages per second, and if there is no confirmation of receipt for a message, it is resent automatically. Complete data means that agencies can have confidence in the data they analyze and report.

Message compression and intelligent network selection

XGate reduces airtime costs by compressing data to minimize the amount of bandwidth consumed. It can communicate over virtually any public or private wireless network and will automatically switching to the lowest cost, available network (i.e., will select WiFi over cellular).

Comprehensive configuration and troubleshooting tools

XGate analyses data logs and provides in-depth statistical graphs on information such as transaction volume and data usage. Extensive troubleshooting tools allow system problems to be addressed rapidly. Coverage maps are useful for showing agencies where there are gaps in their region’s network.

Supports multiple host applications

XGate can communicate simultaneously with multiple host applications. Agencies using Novus or PASS along with Streets can use a single instance of XGate on a single server to manage communications. It is even possible to manage the communications for other, 3rd party applications already in use by agencies (for example, a 3rd party demand response solution).




Feature Benefits

REPORTING & ANALYTICS

STREETS REPORTS

Supports accurate NTD reporting

Agencies can maximize their NTD funding using data collected by Streets. As a result of more than a decade of continuous improvement, Streets has earned the reputation of collecting and providing the most accurate and consistent data in the market. Recognizing that hour and mileage reports may be missing data because of issues such as drivers failing to log on, Streets provides complementary reports (e.g., missed trips) that help agencies fill in the missing data.

Comprehensive historical data collection and reporting

Streets provides a multitude of valuable reports that can be used to analyze operations and service performance. This helps agencies identify opportunities to reduce costs and make more effective use of resources while improving quality of service. As an example, planners will use route adherence, on time performance and ridership reports to adjust routes and schedules, eliminate pattern segments where there is little ridership and add service in other areas where needed.

Driver accountability reports

Streets provides reports that help agencies to ensure that their drivers are operating vehicles in a safe and reliable manner. These reports also help validate concerns reported by the public by supplying reliable, objective data.

OPEN DATA & LEVERAGING REAL-TIME INFORMATION

GTFS EXPORTS & APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACES

GTFS static and real-time exports

Agencies can export a static General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) static file and provide it to Google, making their route and schedule information available to the public on Google Maps.

GTFS real-time feeds real-time departure information into Google Maps. GTFS Real-time is licensed at an additional licensing cost.

Given the commonality of GTFS, many other applications besides Google Maps are compatible with the GTFS format. For example, GTFS data could be used to show the location of transit in real-estate applications or provide input into GPS enabled adaptive technology that assists visually impaired riders.




Feature Benefits

Numerous application programming interfaces (APIs)

APIs allow agencies and their partners to integrate with Streets to leverage data and functionality.

The Static and Real-Time Web Services provide similar information to the GTFS exports plus additional information such as vehicle speed and direction, and passenger capacity and current load. (Note: 3rd parties can develop apps similar to MyRide using Static and Real-time Web Services).

The Special Event Web Services allows a 3rd party application to add extra work into Streets to support service for special events such as a football game.

The XGate .NET API allows 3rd parties to communicate with connected devices. For example, location data from Ranger can be fed into an application used by a police department. Data can be exchanged with on board payment systems and 3rd party back ends for approvals independent of Streets.

The XMM .NET API facilitates access devices managed by XMM. For example, a maintenance application.

C O M P E T I T I V E D I F F E R E N T I A T O R S

RSA (route and schedule adherence) is monitored and evaluated on the Ranger by Streets Mobility providing real-time feedback to drivers even when out of cellular coverage. Other solutions send GPS information from the vehicle to the back-office server where RSA status is determined then results are forwarded back to the vehicle. Not only is this process less efficient and reliable than Streets, drivers fail to receive RSA status if the vehicle cannot communicate to the back-office.

Streets provides a unique solution for managing transit service interruptions whereby transit agencies can define modified route patterns, temporary bus stops and actions (e.g., automated stop announcements), and apply the service interruption for a specified time frame independent of any existing schedules. This means that an agency can define multiple service interruptions that can run in parallel and cross one or more transit schedules. Additionally, Streets provides the ability to specify the hours during the day when a detour is in effect to support scenarios where regular service is in effect during the work day and the detour pattern is performed the remainder of the day. All of this information is pushed out to Streets Dispatch and Rangers so dispatchers and affected drivers are aware of the modified route patterns. Streets continues to monitor RSA status and agencies are able to pull and evaluate the same data as they do for regular service. This solution is superior to inefficient processes that require agencies to remove current schedules from operations, post alternate schedules that include




any service interruptions and then repost the original schedule (or a new alternate schedule with a new service interruption) when the service interruption is over. (Note: The MyRide roadmap includes providing real-time stop and departure information for service interruptions. Currently, users do see the actual position of buses in real-time but will not see a departure time displayed for inactive/temporary bus stops, nor is the detour path shown on the map).

Agencies have total ownership of all data produced and collected by Streets. Moreover, TripSpark provides full documentation for the databases facilitating an agency’s ability to mine data as they desire. According to the Intelligent Transportation Society of America report The Use of Transit ITS Data for Planning and Management, and Its Challenges; a Discussion Paper, agencies often neglected to address the issue of data ownership in RFPs only to find out after the fact that the ITS supplier included wording in their contracts asserting that the data and its use were proprietary. This leads to additional costs for the agency to be able to access and use this data.

XMobile Manager allows on-board devices to be managed remotely translating to significant reduction in labor hours that would be incurred if devices had to be updated, configured and troubleshot manually. Monitoring the updating process by restarting disrupted data transfers from where they left off minimizes consumption of bandwidth. This allows agencies to redirect resources elsewhere and manage their solution with fewer people. Also of significant benefit is the ability to deal with critical updates with little or no downtime. If an agency needs to post an emergency schedule, it can be accomplished in minutes instead of hours, facilitating the prompt return to reliable service.

XGate can compress data up to ten times that of other solution providers correlating to monthly air time costs of a similar ratio - potentially saving thousands of dollars each year. Unlike some competitive solutions, XGate ensures that all messages are successfully delivered. This is crucial to agencies as incomplete or unreliable data can potentially negatively impact funding.

Wireless carrier Verizon1 considers Rangers Machine-to-Machine devices and prices them differently than tablets, even though they are being used for the same purpose. Verizon quoted $5.50 per month for Rangers using 25MB of data. Although not called a shared data plan, multiple Rangers on the same plan can share data. Data for tablets is pooled for up to 10 tablets and a connection fee of $10 per month is charged for each tablet. Assuming data usage was the same for both Ranger and a tablet solution, and calculating costs for a fleet of 80 vehicles, Rangers would incur $440 in air charges per month. For each group of 10 tablets, there would be a $20 charge for data plus $100 in connection fees for a total cost of $1040 per month for 80 tablets.

TripSpark develops, builds and controls the core solution including hardware and software. Other competitors rely on partners to deliver core elements of their solutions. For example, Clever Devices and Strategic Mapping do not have a scheduling solution therefore must partner with companies like Enghouse (Sched21 – Fixed Route Scheduling, Rostering & Runcutting software). RouteMatch procures commercial tablets for their on-board MDT solution. The risk

1 Based on a conversation with a Verizon Business Consultant on July 25, 2016. Note that rates may vary state-to-state or depend on the plan negotiated by agencies with their preferred carrier.




on relying on 3rd parties for key components of a solution is that there is little control over modifications, continuity of supply or backwards compatibility.

An additional benefit of TripSpark developing, building and controlling the core ITS elements on the bus (Ranger, T-Box, Streets Mobility software), in the back-office and passenger information systems is it makes it possible to integrate with 3rd party solutions. TripSpark has partnered with transit agencies and various solution providers to create numerous seamless integrations. Examples include, but are not limited to:

o Automated passenger counters (Dilax, Iris)o Mobile surveillance systems (Seon, Apollo)o Fare collection systems (Genfare, BEA, Xerox)o Transit signal priority (Opticom)o On-board annunciators (Mackenzie Labs)o On-board and wayside signs (Luminator, Sunrise Systems, Hanover)o Wheelchair liftso Emergency buttons

All software upgrades (major releases) and updates (minor releases) are performed by TripSpark Customer Care and are included with annual support and maintenance. This means that all TripSpark customers can take advantage of new features and functionality that are included in the core product offering. Not all competitors include major software releases with standard support and maintenance but rather charge for a “premium” tiered support package or additional licensing and implementation fees. Additionally, customers receive three map updates per year at no additional cost ensuring they have current geographical information.

Streets is modular in nature allowing agencies to grow and add features, integrations, etc. as needs change and funding becomes available. This also helps end user experience in terms of training absorption and retention of knowledge when not overwhelmed by an influx of new technology all at once.

P O T E N T I A L O B J E C T I O N S

Ranger hardware and installation costs are too expensive versus a tablet solution

TripSpark has continued to offer a ruggedized MDT versus moving to a tablet solution for a multitude of reasons.

o Ranger hardware is designed specifically to operate and survive the rigors of the transit environment with respect to water, dust, vibration and shock.

o Rangers provide multiple I/Os that can connect to on-board peripherals. Typically, additional hardware (i.e., T-Box) is only required for automated next stop announcements. Tablet solutions do not have these I/Os therefore additional hardware is required to be able to connect to peripherals.

o Tablets still have to integrate to some form of VLU (Vehicle Logic unit) to operate all interior and exterior peripherals, which is not going to be an off the shelf component.




Any RMA for these units will still need to be dealt with in terms of sending units back to vendor for repair should anything arise.

o VLU integration with a Tablet will also make the tablet solution not as mobile as promised. As tablets use BlueTooth® to connect to their VLUs, connectivity issues may present themselves.

o It may be perceived that it takes a little longer to install Rangers given the wired connections to peripherals however these physical connections are vastly more reliable than wireless connections meaning reliable operation and data collection.

o While Rangers may have a higher upfront (capital) costs, they are designed to have a low total cost of ownership (recurring costs) achieved by reliability, longevity (10+ years versus 2 to 3 years for tablets), and efficient communication minimizing wireless carrier costs.

When asked, customers that have Rangers would not consider moving to a tablet solution citing that tablets just aren’t designed for transit.

Missing features or functionality

Streets has evolved significantly over the years, providing increased value to our customers based on their feedback. Features that are most frequently requested typically are given priority for implementation.

When implementing a new feature, we typically solicit feedback from multiple customers to ensure we implement a design that will benefit all of our customers.

Occasionally customers have a very specific need they want addressed or want a roadmap item implemented sooner. In those cases, we have made arrangements with those customers to address their needs or timelines.

Not a cloud-based solution

There are advantages to a thick-client versus browser-based solutiono Faster response time providing a better user experience as it is easier to control

bandwidth and latency locally.o Local networks tend to be more reliable than public networks.o Supports multiple monitors which is especially advantageous for dispatch over moving

back and forth between AVL and CAD views.o No browser-related issues such as compatibility and security.o Agency controls when they want to upgrade to newer software. In cloud-based

solutions (e.g., Salesforce), customers typically have no say on timing of the upgrade. If owning and managing the servers is the concern, TripSpark offers an affordable hosted

solution. If remote access is a concern, there are many readily available tools that an agency can employ

for secure, remote access.

Solution cost too high

Intelligent transit systems are complex systems designed to deliver value and savings over many years. Streets provides a powerful solution that hides the complexity and makes it easy for small




to mid-sized transit agencies to realize the value and savings. By offering a comprehensive solution that integrates multiple components, agencies can rely on a single vendor.

When assessing cost, the total cost of ownership should be considered. Factored in should be:o costs associated with repair and replacement of hardware (TripSpark Rangers are highly

reliable and have longevity)o cost of operations (XMM allows agencies to quickly update their entire fleet remotely)o cost of upgrades (TripSpark includes all new releases of software and three map updates

a year as part of the maintenance costs)o data costs (XGate compresses data to reduce bandwidth and monitors data transfers so

any data is only sent once) Streets helps agencies maximize their annual NTD funding by providing complete and accurate

data. This is the reason why we don’t claim to have NTD reports as we know that data would be missing. Streets provides complementary reports that have this missing data that agencies can include in their NTD reporting.

TripSpark has been working with agencies for more than a decade implementing Streets. Through this experience, we know what steps need to be taken for a successful implementation and how long those steps will take. Underestimating effort, taking shortcuts or cutting back on training to reduce implementation costs only serve to increase risk and typically will increase the overall cost of the project in the end.

TripSpark does not exaggerate the capabilities of their products. Some competitors have been known to comply with requirements that they cannot meet leading agencies to question why competing systems offer the same functionality but at different price points. Going with the cheaper option has not always gone well for agencies.

P R O D U C T D E S C R I P T I O N S

25-WORD (PRIMARY MESSAGE)

Streets is an ITS solution that enables transit agencies to keep their buses on schedule and provide an exceptional passenger experience while maximizing operational effectiveness.

50-WORD (PRODUCT DESCRIPTION)

Streets helps agencies increase the reliability of their fixed route transit service through real-time monitoring of vehicles, empowering drivers and dispatchers to proactively address imminent issues and planners to identify longer term service improvements. MyRide, a multimodal passenger information system, delivers dependable transit information and trip planning capability to their customers.

100-WORD (EXPANDED PRODUCT DESCRIPTION)

Streets is an innovative ITS solution with CAD/AVL, scheduling, management and reporting back office software that enables transit agencies to deliver service excellence and increase efficiencies across their entire organization. The Ranger MDT, specifically designed for the mobile transit environment, provides an intuitive interface that helps drivers safely deliver reliable service and communicate effectively with




dispatch. Multiple on board peripherals can be integrated seamlessly, allowing agencies to easily introduce new functionality as their needs evolve. Passengers have convenient access to dependable real-time information through automated on board announcements, wayside signs, web applications, SMS and IVR meeting the diverse needs of many.




C O M P E T I T I O N

The total addressable market comprised of small to mid-sized transit agencies (less than 150 vehicles) is estimated to be 612 with an estimated churn of 12 years (i.e., 51 agencies estimated to procure a new solution each year). The chart below shows the estimated market share as of June 2016.

ROUTEMATCH SOFTWARE

COMPANY PROFILE

RouteMatch is a privately held company founded in 1999 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with offices in Australia, Canada and Ireland. They have an estimated annual revenues in the range of $10 to $25 Million (CAD). In 2015, they indicated they had 170 employees and over 600 clients with 72 being fixed route transit CAD/AVL deployments.

RouteMatch typically targets small to mid-size transit agencies similar to TripSpark. Their sales model is similar to TripSpark in that it is a direct sell to the agency either through sole source or by RFP response. They offer both installed and hosted (Cloud Services) solutions. It appears that they also have the ability for customers to lease tablets (complete with data and software) at a monthly rate or to purchase tablets.

Based on a comparison of a proposal written in early 2015 for Kauai to one written in late 2015 for Martin County, RouteMatch has invested in improving their RFP responses. Their latter submission appears to be more personalized, has a strong focus on customer success stories and presents a strong team as well as deployment methodology.




PRODUCTS

RouteMatch’s product began as a demand response solution that evolved to include fixed route. They have a single platform, RouteMatch Enterprise that supports RouteMatch Fixed, RouteMatch Demand and RouteMatch Mobile Data System.

RouteMatch’s back office software appears to be a single application that, for fixed route, provides administrative, scheduling, CAD/AVL and reporting functionality similar to Streets. They do not appear to have equivalent functionality to Streets Service Interruptions and Transfer Protection modules.

RouteMatch’s in-vehicle solution includes a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8” in a ruggedized Otter case with RMMobile software. RMMobile Inspect is an add-on module that automates pre/post-trip vehicle inspections. RM Velocity, their vehicle logic unit, connects to announcement systems, head signs and other peripherals such as TSP, APC and fare collection systems.

Refer to MyRide Positioning Document for information on RouteShout, RouteMatch’s passenger information solution.

Other complementary products offered by Route Match include:

Transit Asset Management – software for asset management, work order management, parts and labor tracking and reporting.

Automated Fare Collection – in-vehicle tablet supports multiple options such as no fare media (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Wallet) and fare media (e.g., smart cards, NFC).

POSITIONING

RouteMatch promotes that they have a “complete passenger transportation technology solution on one platform”. This allows them to assert that their demand response and fixed route solutions are fully integrated.

They also promote:

Open data that belongs to their customers Continually updating their platform based on customer suggestions without expensive upgrade

costs each time improvements are made Participation in and providing resources for transit associations’ efforts and events Their reputation for customer care, a 98% customer retention rate and winning a Best Front Line

Customer Support Stevies award in 2013.

RUMORS

Rumors are items not in print or for which there is no official source




RouteMatch has a reputation of complying with requirements that they cannot deliver

RouteMatch complied to all requirements in the Martin County RFP even though much of the RFP was based on the Streets specification – complying with the Ranger specification is a good example.

A consultant with a TripSpark customer shared that a former RouteMatch executive confided in her that RouteMatch made a conscious decision to comply with everything on RFPs. That executive purportedly left RouteMatch due to having to deal with angry customers.

A Transit Program Supervisor with Josephine Country, shared during an interview that RouteMatch made claims that their demand response software could do things that it couldn’t. While RouteMatch eventually delivered against their claims, he will not consider RouteMatch for their FR solution for this reason and his perception that it is not possible to be able to track their FR vehicles in real-time using RouteMatch’s tablet solution.

RouteMatch was awarded a state-wide contract with Idaho in 2011 however it is believed that they have yet to have any of the agencies involved sign off on their projects.

The GM of Greater Lynchburg Transit in Virginia, shared with a Streets customer in early 2016 that he was very dissatisfied with RouteMatch and that they had “failed to get anything working”. In 2012, their IT director commented to media that "We're two years into a six-month tour…” given the length of time it was taking to get the system operational.

There are multiple other examples of agencies that have had issues with RouteMatch. Greensville City, SC reported multiple concerns relating to software, tablets, passenger information and location accuracy, as examples.

RouteMatch provides an estimate of 50MB of data per month (based on Martin County proposal) however we have heard that data requirements are closer to 500MB.

SELLING AGAINST ROUTEMATCH

WEAKNESSES

Item Points To Emphasize

Wireless vehicle area network During their RFP reference checks, Martin County learned Indian River County experienced system downtime 1 to 2 times per week due to Bluetooth issues with the wireless hardware. This was of great concern to them as grant funding would be in jeopardy if data was not reported accurately. (Based on publically available documents).

A quick internet search for Bluetooth (BLE) issues with Android devices will produce multiple results. Of the issues reported, lagging connection (and reconnection) times and reliability would have the greatest impact on transit agencies given the potential for loss of data.


http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/city-seeks-proposals-for-new-bus-gps/article_26bde644-d849-511c-b4a9-440a6c5591e3.html?mode=commenting




Lacks flexibility in vehicle assignment

RouteMatch’s software appears to be vehicle centric. Runs are tied to vehicles and trips are tied to runs. It has been reported that it is not as easy as drag and drop to move runs to other vehicles.

Streets on the other hand is driver centric. If for some reason a driver needs to move to a different vehicle, s/he simply logs off one vehicle and logs on to another. No dispatch intervention is required.

User interface not intuitive Menus in the software are nested and treed fairly deeply making the software difficult to learn and use. An infrequent user of the RouteMatch software shared that, when he filled in for an ill dispatcher, it took him 20 minutes to complete a task that should have only taken a couple of minutes.

Streets has customers, such as Texas A&M University that has a high turnover of dispatchers and drivers given that they hire students. They are able to do this without worrying about extensive training on Streets as the software is highly intuitive given that it was designed specifically for fixed route transit.

Lags behind in supporting current platforms

Blacksburg shared that they have been forced to run an old and unsecure version of .NET on their servers and workstations for a long time because RouteMatch’s software only works with one version of .NET. They further shared that they do not support Windows 10.

TripSpark’s development practices include testing with new platforms as they are released to ensure our software maintains compatibility.

Poor support of interlining RouteMatch’s product was designed for paratransit and morphed to include fixed route therefore was not designed specifically for fixed route from the ground up. Streets’ architecture was created specifically to support the needs of fixed route transit.

With Streets, buses can easily move from one route to another. Headsigns will automatically change as will faresets on integrated fareboxes as soon as a bus reaches the last point on a given trip and looks to start the next.





Software upgrades are not included

RouteMatch includes software updates (point releases), typically to fix issues, but not upgrades (full releases), which typically would include new features. RouteMatch appears to have two tiers of software maintenance – a higher priced option that included upgrades and lesser option that does not. A contract with the state of Iowa did not include upgrades.

STRENGTHS


Single platform for both demand response and fixed route

Although there are perceived benefits to having an integrated solution, RouteMatch’s solution has been reported to be too slow for a real-time AVL system. This is according to a RouteMatch demand response customer – Josephine County - who will not consider RouteMatch for fixed route. MV previously shared their concerns regarding the slowness of the system deployed in Baton Rouge. Again, perhaps an example of a paratransit product being modified to address fixed route transit needs.

A significant benefit of having fixed route ITS is to monitor and improve on-time performance. RouteMatch calculates on-time performance in their back office software using GPS reports from the vehicles. Streets, on the other hand, continually computes on time performance on the Ranger therefore drivers will always have knowledge of their current schedule adherence even in the absence of cellular communication.

Deviated Fixed Route It is unclear how effective RouteMatch’s solution is given they do not go into much detail in their proposals and no positive opinions have been heard.

Streets is able to offer agencies a few options in order to support deviated fixed route. They can choose to expand route adherence corridors, permitting buses to travel a defined distance from their route. Another option is to deactivate route adherence notification for buses that are permitted off route to pick up passengers. With either option, Streets captures accurate mileage, location and ridership data that can be used for NTD and other reporting.

Significantly lower cost solution

Focus on the total cost of ownership.





Verizon does not offer the same pricing flexibility for tablets as they do for M2M devices such as Ranger. As such, monthly airtime and line access costs can be over double. As an example, RouteMatch provided an estimate of 50MB of data per month per vehicle in the Martin County proposal. The pooled monthly data requirements would be 0.65GB and the cost quoted was $195 per month for 13 vehicles. Verizon’s website (accessed July 2016) indicates that a 2GB pooled plan (the smallest advertised) is $20 per month. The additional cost is believed to be the $10 per device connection fee plus margin. Rangers are able to take advantage of M2M plans and given they require only 25MB of data each month, the total monthly cost for a fleet of 13 Rangers would be $71.502, less than 40% of the tablet wireless costs.

Assuming that tablets would require replacement every few years, customers would incur a minimum cost of $320 for tablet alone i.e., does not include cables or ruggedized case (based on memo to Salem – Keizer Transit Board accessed July 2016). The replacement costs would likely come from agencies’ operating budgets.

Josephine County shared that RouteMatch charged them an additional license fee when they wanted to provide their dispatchers with multiple monitors to reduce inefficient navigation between windows.

According to Tim Witten of Blacksburg, upgrading RouteMatch software is a complicated process requiring a day or more to upgrade each workstation as they do not have an installer.

Ruggedized tablet solution perceived to be modern technology

RouteMatch promotes that their tablets can offer functionality beyond providing a driver interface. They suggest that their back office can be accessed from the tablets and they can also be leveraged for operator based training such as blood born pathogen training. While these are interesting concepts, the practicality should be questioned.

Consumer tablets are not designed for a 10+ year lifecycle. Rangers are. Tablets have an expected lifespan of 5.1 year (based on consumer use, not commercial use). Ref: Average Lifespan of 7 Popular Tech Products – based on data from Consumer Electronics

2 Based on a conversation with a Verizon Business Consultant on July 25, 2016. Note that rates may vary state-to-state or depend on the plan negotiated by agencies with their preferred carrier.


http://smartphones.specout.com/stories/9635/average-lifespan-tech-products

http://smartphones.specout.com/stories/9635/average-lifespan-tech-products

http://cherriots.org/sites/default/files/PACKET%20BOD%2001-28-16%20UPDATED.pdf




Association (accessed July 2016)

Greensville, SC had contracted RouteMatch to deliver their paratransit and fixed route solution. They seek to amend their contract to remove the fixed route portion and desire to return $35K of tablets citing longevity as a concern. Ref: GTA agenda minutes (accessed July 2016)

Three Rivers (GA) Regional Commission minutes revealed that the tablets had a 2 year lifespan. (accessed July 2016)

Interagency trip planning This is achieved when adjacent agencies submit GTFS files to Google. This is not a capability attributable to RouteMatch.

Provides NTD reports RouteMatch may produce NTD-like reports, such as the Service Non-Rail (S-10), however whether these reports capture all the data possible to maximum NTD funding is suspect.

Streets provides mileage, hours and ridership reports that form the basis for NTD reporting. It also provides complementary reports, such as missed trips, that agencies can evaluate and include as appropriate in their NTD calculations.

Native application for passenger information

Native apps are useful for applications that are meant to work offline (e.g., games), however real-time passenger information systems provide their value when online.

The RouteShout app is a generic app that customers have to download then select the desired agency. There is no agency branding or customization to include agency specific content (e.g., fare pages).

Refer to MyRide Positioning Document for more information.

Cloud-based Solution RouteMatch software is a thick-client - the same as Streets. TripSpark can offer the same cloud-based solution as RouteMatch which in reality is a hosted solution that uses 3rd party software such as Citrix to access the server remotely.


https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&rlz=1C1GTPM_enCA663CA663&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=THREE+RIVERS+REGIONAL+COMMISSION

http://www.greenvillesc.gov/agendacenter