[tabi] Re: StarMetro Update
- From: "Sila Miller" <Silamiller@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 22:30:18 -0500
Hello Brian,
Thank you for your update. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Below are some questions and feedback. Hopefully they make sense and will be
kept in mind during future planning.
1. While I applaud StarMetro for adding amenities to their star stops, I
sincerely believe that money would have been better spent on
* more frequent routes
* expansion of bus service or
* automated stop announcements.
2. Does the bus stop sign redesign/braille plates mean new poles? Will this
take place before or after the amenities are installed?
3. Do the electronic fare cards actually provide an additional option or are
they to replace tokens and cash? Has research been done to add voice over to
the card readers to allow for compliance with the 21st Century legislation?
I have been and remain willing to assist in testing. My experience tells me
those electronic fare cards and the faulty readers have a ways yet to go.
Again, thank you for your update.
Sila
----- Original Message -----
From: Waterman, Brian
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2014 3:28 PM
Subject: [tabi] StarMetro Update
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 or 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
Cell: (850) 339-9969
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