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An Intelligent Transportation System for Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics -- Technical Assistance Brief #11, February 1996
An Intelligent Transportation System for Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics
Technical Assistance Brief
Brief 11
February 1996
Introduction
The 1996 Summer Olympic Games will be held in the Atlanta area. The large number of visitors expected from around the world will greatly tax the highway and public transit transportation systems of the Atlanta region.
In recognition that this transportation challenge would be an opportunity to demonstrate to a world wide audience how American Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Advanced Public Transportation Systems (APTS) technology can move traffic and people in an efficient manner, a number of Federal, State, regional, and local agencies have joined to sponsor and conduct a special ITS/APTS program for the Atlanta region.
Before describing this important program, the Atlanta ITS, this Technical Brief will first discuss the ITS and APTS concepts, and the resultant benefits these programs will bring to transportation.
The ITS Program
The ITS program has been initiated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to promote the more efficient use of the nation's surface transportation system, increase safety and mobility, and decrease the environmental costs of travel.
Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure
Intelligent Transportation Systems represent a series of technologies and services that allows both transportation providers and users to make intelligent transportation decisions.
Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure is used to describe the seven basic technology systems which serve as building blocks for a metropolitan area ITS. The Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure consists of:
o Freeway Management Systems
o Transit Management Systems
o Traffic Signal Control Systems
o Traveler Information Systems
o Incident Management Systems
o Electronic Fare Payment Systems
o Electronic Toll Collection Systems
Almost all these elements will form the basis of the Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure being developed for Atlanta for the 1996 Olympics.
The APTS Program
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) sponsored APTS program, the public transit component of ITS, uses the application of computer technology and state-of-the-art telecommunications and navigation technology to improve the convenience, efficiency and safety of public transportation, and to provide timely transit information to transit passengers.
The APTS program has six major elements:
o Fleet Operations and Management Systems
o Traveler Information
o Mobility Management Systems
o Travel Demand Management Systems
o Electronic Information Systems
o Electronic Fare Collection Systems (Smart Cards)
Fleet Operations and Management Systems refers to a broad category of technologies that can be applied to bus transit systems for improving vehicle and fleet planning, scheduling, and operations. These technologies can help the transit operator provide better customer service (reliability and safety) as well as achieve more efficient operations.
Technologies such as Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems, dispatching software, automatic passenger counters (APC), on-board passenger information, and automatic vehicle monitoring (AVM) and diagnostics, will enable transit properties to provide better customer service and conduct operations in a more efficient manner.
Traveler Information technologies focus on providing real-time travel information to travelers before and during their trips. Providing real-time travel information to travelers at home, in the workplace, or through roadside or transit center monitors using ITS communications technologies can help travelers choose their mode of travel, or alter their route in response to a delay. Information on transit routes, schedules, status and anticipated arrival or departure time of the next bus, will help to increase ridership on public transit. Examples of traveler information technologies are: touch-tone telephones; audiotex/videotex; interactive video displays, roadside or transit center monitors; wayside and on-board bus displays; and smart kiosks.
Mobility Management Systems provide a capability to:
- link consumers with service providers of all travel modes, e.g., bus, taxi, rail, vanpools, express bus, specialized services, carpools, etc.
- establish an organizational and electronic infrastructure for facilitating informed decision-making by the consumer of mode, route, and time of travel (based on price and service options).
- provide a single point of contact clearinghouse for financial transactions among participants (consumers and providers).
Examples of mobility management systems technologies are: software for matching travel demands with available services, dispatch software, geographic information systems, financial systems, communications systems, and dispatch/activity center display devices.
The ITS being developed in Atlanta, a highway/public transportation intelligent transportation system, is a prime example of a smart intermodal mobility management system.
Travel Demand Management Systems mitigate congestion through a number of means including encouragement of travelers to use high occupancy vehicles (HOV) and implementation of policies favoring off-peak travel and/or in HOVs. Using APTS/ITS technologies, displays can be used to warn drivers approaching metropolitan areas of the lack of parking available and to provide information on where drivers can park their vehicles and connect with public transportation. In addition to conventional public transportation, van pools and ridesharing would also help minimize congestion. Examples of travel demand management systems technologies are: variable message signs, on-board vehicle displays, HOV access and verification systems, and software for setting up ridesharing systems.
Electronic Information Systems, either alone or in conjunction with other technologies, support the delivery of a range of APTS/ITS user services and provide a means of disseminating information to the transit community and the general public. As used here, the term 'electronic information systems' includes geographic information systems as well as information systems accessible via the Internet and other media.
Electronic Fare Collection Systems (Smart Cards) technologies are advanced fare media such as smart cards and associated system hardware/software elements to make fare payment more convenient for the traveler and financial management more efficient for the transportation service provider. In addition to facilitating fare payment, use of smart card systems can enable regional fare integration, congestion pricing, and discounts based on public transportation usage.
The Intelligent Transportation System in Atlanta
The USDOT, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Transit Administration, Georgia DOT (GDOT), the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), and the private sector have joined together to sponsor and conduct a highway and public transportation ITS program. The program objective is to promote more efficient transportation, and to demonstrate U.S. transportation technology to the world. The program will be running in time for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
The extensive program for the application of ITS and APTS technology in the Atlanta area has three major integral components, including:
1. A public transit ITS project - ITS MARTA 96.
2. A highway Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) - the Georgia DOT ATMS program.
3. A traveler information systems showcase - the Atlanta Traveler Information Showcase.
Each of these components is summarized below.
ITS MARTA 96
The ITS MARTA 96 project is jointly funded by FHWA, FTA and MARTA. FHWA support is in recognition of the role of transit and the multimodal features of ITS.
ITS MARTA 96 is focused on the Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure elements Transit Management Systems and Traveler Information Systems.
The key components of the MARTA ITS includes:
o Automatic Vehicle Location
o Automated Passenger Counting (APC)
o In-vehicle stop announcements and signage
o An automated customer information system
o Customer trip itinerary planning
o Passenger Information Devices (PID)
o Fiber optic link to the GDOT ATMS
The prime system engineering contractors conducting the ITS MARTA 96 project are TRW Transportation Systems and Transportation Management Solutions, Inc. (TMS). TRW has responsibility for the automated customer information system and the fiber optic connection to the GDOT ATMS. TMS has responsibility for the AVL, APC, roadside customer information devices and in-vehicle signage aspects of the program.
Current plans for ITS MARTA 96 are to equip 250 buses with AVL, 100 buses with in-vehicle signage, and 15 buses with APC. In addition, MARTA will develop an extensive customer information system before the 1996 Olympic Games. Some 15 passenger information devices will be distributed throughout the MARTA system at bus stops and rail stations. The PIDs will use real-time information from the AVL equipped buses to provide bus status information to waiting customers.
AVL equipped buses will have GPS differentially capable navigation receivers and in-vehicle logic units (IVLU) installed. The IVLU will supplement the GPS derived position with a dead reckoned position in case the satellite based GPS position is degraded by signal blockage due to buildings or foliage. Additional accuracy will be derived through differential GPS corrections. The corrections will be determined at a GPS monitor site at the MARTA control center, and a correction signal broadcast from that site. The accurate differentially corrected bus position will be determined by the IVLU and that position in turn is transmitted to the control center. The indicated bus position will be monitored at the MARTA Transit Information Center (TIC) on a map based display.
All the MARTA system bus stops (approximately 10,000) will be surveyed and accurately located with a differentially corrected GPS position.
The ITS MARTA 96 system will be integrated into the highway ATMS through a fiber optic linkage. Highway traffic data will be obtained from the ATMS to assist in bus scheduling and dispatch, and traffic conditions noted by MARTA buses will be shared with the ATMS.
In addition, transit schedule and itinerary information will be made available to the ATMS, which in turn will be made available to travelers making queries at kiosks situated at highway rest areas, welcome centers, hotels, MARTA stations, and business offices throughout the state. There will be a large number of kiosks located throughout Georgia, with many of these installed in the Atlanta area.
Itinerary information on public transportation will also be provided to visitors who call in to the MARTA customer information center, or seek information at kiosks. Travelers will be able to obtain information on the nearest bus stop or transit station and itinerary to follow once a street location where the trip is to start from is given, and the destination of the trip is identified.
Visitors entering the State of Georgia by highway will also be able to use kiosks as they enter the state to obtain public transportation as well as highway routes and road condition information. They will also be able to obtain print-outs of itineraries to specified destinations. The visitor using the kiosk can request public transit information directly, or also be given the opportunity to obtain public transportation information as an option when he seeks private vehicle highway travel information.
Real-time public transportation information will be used in establishing an itinerary. For instance, if the initially selected itinerary is a bus line, and real-time schedule adherence information for that line shows a delayed arrival time for a bus of more than 10 minutes, an alternative itinerary will be selected and displayed to the visitor.
The AVL system will be used by MARTA to assist in dispatching and controlling bus flow and to update the itinerary planning system. Traffic information available from ATMS will allow MARTA dispatchers to direct buses around traffic congestion, where such divergence from fixed routes is allowed, or to adjust schedule information provided to travelers taking into account such delays. In addition, buses can act as traffic probes. Information from buses encountering traffic blockages will be provided to the transit control center and, in turn, will be forwarded to the ATMS control center.
In addition, MARTA, working with the banking and credit card industry, has initiated a smart card transit payment program. A large scale, multi-use, open system will allow transit riders to purchase a monthly MARTA magnetic stripe fare card, or a stored value, smart card for transit and other commercial services. The stored value cards will be disposable cards in increments up to $100, or rechargeable cards which can be loaded from a person's bank account or credit card.
The Georgia DOT ATMS Program
The Georgia DOT ATMS program, sponsored by FHWA and GDOT, is directed toward the Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure elements Freeway Management Systems, Incident Management, and Traveler Information Systems. The intent of this program is to monitor the flow of traffic along major highways in real-time, and provide up-to-date traffic information to motorists in the Atlanta area. TRW Transportation Systems, under contract to the Georgia DOT, has system engineering responsibility for development of all aspects of the ATMS.
Over 140 kiosks will be placed state-wide to provide travel information to Atlanta visitors. Kiosks will be installed at rest areas and welcome centers on major highways outside of the Atlanta area to provide information to motorists entering the state on where parking facilities are located and on public transit options.
A large number of video cameras will monitor traffic on major highways. The video information will be sent over fiber optic cable to, and be monitored at, a Transportation Management Center. When an incident is detected, traffic advisories are issued. A warning is flashed to traffic approaching the incident on a number of variable message signs.
The highway surveillance information will also be used to promptly dispatch appropriate public safety responses to incidents that occur on the highways.
The Atlanta Traveler Information Showcase
The Atlanta Traveler Information Showcase (TIS), with sponsorship by the USDOT, and participation by the telecommunications, information and navigation industries, will demonstrate the application of new technologies and devices to provide timely transportation information to travelers. The TIS program represents the Intelligent Transportation Infrastructure building block Traveler Information Systems.
The technologies to be demonstrated include wireless personal communication devices, in-vehicle navigation devices, on-line computer information services, interactive TV systems, and cable TV.
The TIS program, an integral component of the ITS MARTA 96 and Georgia DOT ATMS programs, allows information on current traffic conditions and transit information to be provided to Atlanta visitors and residents. Transit information on the MARTA fixed route bus fleet and a shuttle fleet assigned to spectator transportation will be used, and interfaces with MARTA itinerary planning and AVL capabilities will be established.
Atlanta ITS Schedule
Current plans are to place the Atlanta ITS, including the ATMS and MARTA ITS systems, in operation in April 1996. This will allow sufficient time for system check-out before the Olympic Games in July. Studies are underway to plan for the orderly expansion of the MARTA ITS throughout the MARTA fleet in the future.
