Center for Urban Transportation Research

1. Travel Assistance Device (TAD) to Aid Transit Riders with Special Needs Center for Urban Transportation Research Dmitry Belov, Alfredo Perez, MilenaSarmiento, Sean Barbeau, Phil Winters, Nevine Georggi, Miguel Labrador, Rafael Perez Center for Urban Transportation Research and the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of South Florida Problem Fig 1. Alert the rider of upcoming stops System Architecture For cognitively disabled individuals, getting to work, home, and school using public transportation can be very challenging. Caretakers often have reservations about allowing the rider to travel independently. Additionally, transit agencies find it very expensive to operate on-demand van service (approx. $25.30 per trip) for these individuals if they cannot ride the regular fixed route system (approx. $2.89 per trip). Solution Create a software communication architecture which utilizes Global Positioning System (GPS)-enabled mobile phones to notify the rider in real-time when they should get off the bus (Figure 1). Modular server and cell phone software using web services provides efficient scalability and an easy way to add new features. . Personalized Alerts GPS-Enabled Mobile Phone Benefits Fig 2. Monitor rider position in real time on the web • Enhance quality of life of cognitively disabled individuals and their families • Enhance traveler safety • Increase transit ridership • Reduce cost of trips by moving more people from demand response vans to fixed route bus service Safety Features • Rider’s position can be monitored in real time by the guardian or travel instructor (Figure 2). • Guardian is alerted through email if the rider gets off the designated route. • Rider’s confirmation is required each time he or she gets off the bus. • All location data is stored in a database so the riders trip can be reconstructed. • Travel trainer creates a trip for the rider and manually selects the starting, ending and ring notification locations for the routes. • Audio, visual, and vibration alerts are triggered by GPS data from the phone immediately prior to destination. • Soon-to-be installed Automatic Vehicle Locator system on buses will be linked with cell phone to provide enhanced reliability. Funding provided by the United States Department of Transportation through the National Center for Transit Research and the Florida Department of Transportation