[tabi] Re: StarMetro Update
- From: Chip Orange <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2015 16:33:45 +0000
Hi Robert and all,
I am sorry I couldn’t try to get to this before the holidays, but family
problems just made that impossible.
I had a phone call with Brian Waterman, to discuss your issues, and all of his
current status reports, efforts, information, etc. which he would like to
communicate with TABI. Let me see if I can put down a good summary of what was
said:
· StarMetro is becoming recognized nation-wide for the efforts to
better serve the visually impaired community. It’s now to the point where they
are being contacted by other transit providers, to discuss all the various
needs and problems of visually impaired ridership. Brian was very pleased
about this, he wants our local visually impaired community to know that they
have his sincere thanks for constantly pushing him to learn more, and to do
better. He is again asking for any input at all, up through March 31st,
regarding route changes or any other changes StarMetro can make. He and his
staff will begin at that time to analyze these suggestions for their next round
of upgrades to the system.
· * Robert, he agrees with you (and who doesn’t), about making every
route have a 20 minute head way (why not a 10 minute head way), and service
every day until midnight! The point here is that he can only provide using the
money that he has. If we want better bus service, we need to convince others
(not just ourselves), and then everyone needs to convince the city and county
commissions to put in more money for public transit.
· * He has tried several different approaches to get someone to create
all the electronic data Google needs to add us to Google Transit. He doesn’t
disagree with how important it is, but so far their contractors have given them
systems they can use, and the public can use via the web and via phone apps,
but no one has given them a system which produces data which is acceptible to
Google, so Tallahassee cannot yet be added to the Google system. He did try to
explain to me all of the various options he has pirsued, and is pirsuing, to
try and get these data files to be generated reliably, but I admit to having my
head spin from all the options he’s trying to deal with, while still having to
satisfy the needs of the public, FSU (and other special riderships). The short
answer is that in the next quarter he expects to have something working which
will produce Google Transit data files acceptible to Google (they can already
produce them acceptible to Microsoft/Bing, so part of the confusion is then
over why aren’t they acceptible to Google)?
· * We didn’t discuss the seats attached to bus signs, but I will point
out that I am one person, married to another, who cannot stand for long times
while waiting on a bus; therefore, I think the need for seats at bus stops is
another disabled group’s needs, which we will have to accommodate. I don’t
immediately see why you won’t be able to approach the sign from two sides if
you need to read it, even if it has seats, but if you can’t, you could try to
ask the people sitting there which stop it is. I’m going to guess a lot of the
time, you’ll know which stop it is, because that’s why you will be there.
I think that’s it. Brian seems very interested in public input, so write to
him, or even ask him to meet with your group if you feel that’s necessary, but
I got the feeling he’s willing to do whatever he can for us, given the money he
has to work with. This last phrase is the key here, we have to get more money
if we want more service, talking buses, or whatever. The same is true for
dial-a-ride issues.
StarMetro did install the call recording system. They deserve a thanks for
achieving an important request. I’m sure it cost quite a bit of money, so next
time, if StarMetro isn’t able to give us something we ask for, it may be more
helpful if we go to the city commission to explain what it is, and ask them to
allocate money for it.
In the mean time, we are getting regular progress reports from StarMetro,
getting many things done which we ask for, and we’ve got a willing ear for any
of our requests. This is much more than we’ve had in the past, and I’m
appreciative of it.
Hth,
Chip
Chip Orange
Florida Public Service Commission
Computer Systems Analyst
850-413-6314
From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Robert Miller
Sent: Saturday, December 20, 2014 7:56 AM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [tabi] Re: StarMetro Update
Hi Brian,
I have responded to each of your points directly below each.
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 Google Transit. The data feeds and Android App
should
be in completed in the 1
st Quarter of 2015.
What is the point of waiting man power and money developing separate apps for
the I-phone and android since Google has already done the work for you with the
transit option in Google maps. If you want people with I-phones to test your
app, it would be nice to know the name of the app.
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.
I have some real concerns with placing 2 seaters on bus sign poles. First of
all will they stick out in the path of the side walk. If someone is sitting on
one of the seats, blind people may not know they are there and may get struck
by a cane or a nice wet lick by a guide dog since they would be at the right
level for a big smack. How will we be able to get to the pole to read the
Braille sign to read it if some one is sitting in front of the pole. What does
it take to get planners at Star Metro to start thinking blind? As much cane as
we have raised apparently no one there has caught on yet.
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.
Brian, If you will look back to your prior post and updates, the Braille signs
should have been completely installed at the end of the summer and the last
time I checked there is still no Braille sign on the post at my stop hence my
remark about the constant lies that keep coming from Star Metro.
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.
What is the point, you get plenty of public input but we don't get any out put.
All we get is lies and promises that don't do anything to improve the quality
and frequency of bus service, in fact most of the changes are designed to
reduce service such as the Southwood and Red Hills changes which pushes more
and more disabled people to Dial A Ride. But since you are asking for public
input, give us 20 minute head ways and more evening and weekend service so we
don't have to be prisoners in our homes after 7 PM unless we live on the south
side. 40. 60 and 120 minute head ways are unacceptable since bus drivers aren't
allowed to coordinate over the radio if they are running 2-5 minutes behind. I
would much rather be 2-5 minutes late than have to wait in the heat or rain up
to another hour and 20 minutes for the next bus I thought that was what radios
were for. Why was this allowed when the hub system was in use? but not now.
Unfortunately this practice shows that Star Metro has no concern for the riders
convenience.
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.
Congratulations, this only took about 8 years to implement. This request was
made at one of the TD meetings several years before Donna Peacock retired.
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.
Can you give a update on what is going on with the developer of this
application. I sent Andrea a list of problems with the app for people using
speech and the only response I got was that she sent my concerns to the
developer and that was about 6 weeks ago.
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.
This is nice but I think most people would much rather be able to get to work,
doctor's appointments and the grocery store on time. The money would be better
spent hiring more drivers and putting more vans on the road
.
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.
Here again Star Metro can't think blind. There is no way for a blind person to
tactually determine which way to slide the card in the reader and there is no
audibal out put to let you know how many trips are left on your not so smart
card. So far neither Sila, my self or the driver have been able to get the
reader to even read the card. Personally I didn't see anything wrong with the
tokens and again this is just another waist of money. If the smart card system
was purchased with federal grant money then the facts I listed above should
most definitely put this system in violation of the 21st century communications
act that should be in effect before this system is working. Please get the
message, give us more drivers and vans and quit wasting man power and money
that doesn't do anything to provide good dependable quality transportation.
Depending on the driver to tell us how many trips are left on the card is not
acceptable. It hasn't worked on the fixed routes for stop announcements and
won't work here.
.
Brian S. Waterman, AICP
Transit Planning Manager
StarMetro
Office:
(850) 891-5564
Cell:
(850) 339-996
From: Waterman, Brian<mailto:Brian.Waterman@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2014 3:28 PM
To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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<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>
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