Happy Holidays to everyone at TABI. Before the year ended, I wanted to provide an update on what we are doing at StarMetro. If you have any questions on any of these items or have other questions, feel free to let me know. 1. Technology - StarMetro currently has an IPhone App on the App Store. We are waiting to market it until the Android App is completed and to have more time to test it. If you have an IOS device, go ahead and download it. We would appreciate your feedback. We are also working with our vendor on providing our transit data to third party vendors, such as GoogleTransit. The data feeds and Android App should be in completed in the 1st Quarter of 2015. 2. Amenities - It is our goal that every bus stop have an amenity (two seat bus pole, bench, shelter, etc.). To accomplish this, we have updated our Bus Stop Policy, included funding in the recent Sales Tax Referenda, and selected vendors for a shelter and bench program. The contracts with the vendors should be completed by March with installation starting shortly thereafter. Over 300 shelters, benches, or 2 seat bus poles should be installed in 2015. 3. Bus Stop Sign Redesign/Braille Plates - We are redesigning our Bus stops signs to be more visible and contain more information. Staff will start installing these signs next year. Since we have over 800 bus stops, it may take over a year before this project is completed. Braille plates will be updated as new signs are added. 4. Service Changes - StarMetro is implementing an annual route change process to allow for more public comment, more analysis, and more outreach on changes. Route changes should only take place in December. From January 1 to March 31, we are taking public comment on possible changes the public would like to see. Please email brian.waterman@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:brian.waterman@xxxxxxxxxx> or Charles.main@xxxxxxxxxx<mailto:Charles.main@xxxxxxxxxx> with suggested changes or questions. 5. Dial-A Ride Update a. Call Center Recording - The call recording system is fully operational. This technology is helping us to ensure customer service is maintained through analysis of randomly selected phone recordings and follow-up on recordings where a customer/staff member has raised an issue. Recordings are being used as a training tool as well. b. Online Scheduling - Online scheduling is a web based application enabling customers to confirm, cancel or book trips online without the need to speak with a reservationist. This system is currently being tested and we anticipate rolling this out to the public in the first quarter of 2015. c. Interactive Voice Response (IVR) - The IVR system will send customers automated notices via voice mail, e-mail or text message (customer can choose how they want to receive this information) reminding them of upcoming trips, trip booking confirmation, trip cancellation confirmation, as well as imminent arrival confirmations (Vehicle is 20 minutes away). This system is currently being tested and we anticipate rolling this out to the public in the first quarter of 2015. d. Electronic Fare cards - The electronic fare cards provide an additional option to exact change and paper tokens when using DAR. We have started testing this system and are working with our Contractor to fix glitches in the system. We anticipate rolling this out to the public in the first quarter of 2015. We want to thank those who have helped us test the online scheduling, the IVR system and the new fare cards. Your input helped us fix many issues which internal testing alone would not have found. We look forward to continue working with you in 2015. Brian S. Waterman, AICP Transit Planning Manager StarMetro Office: (850) 891-5564<tel:%28850%29%20891-5564> Cell: (850) 339-9969<tel:%28850%29%20339-9969>