ADVANCING COMMUNITY TRANSPORTATION THROUGH COORDINATION USING ITS-LESSONS LEARNED FROM AIKEN (SOUTH CAROLINA)

摘要

The Mobility Services for All Americans (MSAA) initiative is a United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) research initiative that aims to enhance the efficiency and quality of human service transportation utilizing ITS. Travel Management Coordination Centers (TMCC) demonstration is a major outcome of the MSAA initiative. ITS forms the basis of the TMCC system by enabling two essential functional features: 1) enhanced real-time traveler information capability, and 2) improved or enhanced operational coordination through advanced ITS fleet management tools. In 2008, the USDOT selected Aiken (South Carolina), Camden County (New Jersey), and Paducah (Kentucky) to develop and demonstrate the technological and institutional feasibility of a deployed TMCC and to assess its impacts. In 2010, Aiken and Paducah TMCCs became operational and began a new era of coordinated community transportation services. The Paducah KY TMCC received the 2010 Community Transportation System of the Year Award by the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA). The process and approach that led to the ultimate success of these two TMCC demonstration projects suggests that while each TMCC design was significantly influenced by local unique operational needs and characteristics, certain foundational ITS capabilities, such as Computer-Aided Scheduling and Dispatching (CASD), are required by all. This paper documents real-world results from the Aiken deployment and confirms that human service transportation in general is an “under-challenged” area where ITS can make a major impact.