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USDOT Announces Site
Selections For Human Service Transportation Improvement Demos
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced the
selection of 8 U.S. locations that will demonstrate how Intelligent Transportation
Systems (ITS) can simplify accessibility to human service transportation
for those who need it. These demonstrations will explore the technical and
institutional feasibility of a coordinated human service transportation system
with enhanced accessibility features and serve as a model for other locations
to improve delivery of human service transportation.
The demonstrations are a program of two major USDOT initiatives: United
We Ride (UWR) and Mobility Services for All Americans (MSAA), both of which
grew out of growing concerns over rising human service transportation costs
and the need to provide better service for people with special transportation
needs.
The UWR/MSAA team’s joint demonstration project involves a two-phased
approach: system planning and design (Phase 1) and system deployment and
evaluation (Phase 2). Through an open competition Request for Proposals (RFP)
released in April 2006, the USDOT has selected the following 8 locations
as the Phase 1 project sites.
- Aiken, SC – planning and design of an expanded human service
transportation network to include more human service transportation
providers and vehicle tracking abilities (e.g., GPS), and enable
customers to receive information and manage their own trips through
a toll-free number and web-based applications.
- Atlanta, GA – planning and design of a regional information
clearinghouse to 1) share financial and operational resources, including
regional database management, accounting functions, and a unified
transportation tracking system; and 2) provide direct customer service,
including information dissemination and trip planning.
- Cherry Hill, NJ -- planning and design of a transportation brokerage
system supported by a comprehensive set of transportation modes,
and promotion of fixed-route public transportation usage for human
service clients through accessibility improvement.
- Fitchburg, MA – planning and design of an enhanced communication
system that allows a collection of devices to access real-time traveler
information and support, such as a telephone, the Internet, wireless
personal digital assistants (PDA), or a self-served kiosk or ticket
booth at a train station.
- Kent, OH – planning and design of a human service transportation
network that involves a call center to support trip planning/management
and real-time traveler information using ITS (such as interactive
voice response (IVR) and web-based applications). This project also
incorporates emergency evacuation as a service scenario.
- Louisville, KY – planning and design a customer-based traveler
information center that not only provides one-stop travel support
for all consumers, but also functions as the broker for transportation
providers to enable resources sharing and operational coordination.
The proposed center aims to incorporate a comprehensive set of transportation
services to meet the mobility needs of all area residents.
- Orlando, FL – integration with existing ITS deployments
to promote multi-jurisdictional coordination, and introduce a universal
cashless fare payment system and automated billing functions to enhance
human service transportation operations.
- Paducah, KY – expansion of an existing call center to cover
a larger geographic area and provide around-the-clock access to traveler
support. The strengthened call center will add customer-oriented
features, such as automated telephone and Internet-based trip reservations
and management.
These 8 Phase 1 demonstration projects will cost a total of $3,689,736,
including $2,706,045 from the USDOT and $983,731 from the selected project
sites as local match. These sites will each carry out detailed designs of
coordinated human service transportation systems that utilize ITS capabilities.
The time line for the Phase 1 demonstration projects is 15 months, beginning
at the project kick-off. Near the end of Phase 1, the USDOT intends to issue
a second RFP to select two or more local communities to proceed with Phase
2 – model deployment and evaluation. Only the selected 8 Phase 1 sites
are eligible to apply for Phase 2 of this demonstration.
For more information on UWR and MSAA, go to www.unitedweride.gov and www.its.dot.gov/msaa.
Updated
August 20, 2008 10:23 AM
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