T RA NSPO RTAT I ON
ELECTRIFYING TRANSIT:
MODERNIZING FREDERICK’S
TRANSPORTATION
BY KENDALL K. TIFFANY, COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER, TRANSIT SERVICES OF FREDERICK COUNTY
This spring TransIT is introducing some exciting technological
changes for you to incorporate into your daily routine, all of
which will improve and simplify your TransIT experience while
also being more environmentally friendly.
BOOKING YOUR TRIP
As smartphones become more
of the norm and time is of the
essence, people are beginning to
carry fewer things and are shifting
their focus away from traditional
measures, such as visiting a ticketing
location. Molding with the everchanging norm, TransIT has an
all-encompassing ticketing app available for Apple and Android
operating systems.
Rather than having to carry extra cash or worrying about exact
change for bus fare, or even misplacing your ticket, Frederick
County residents (and visitors) can download and use TransIT
ezFARE. TransIT ezFARE allows riders to purchase and
download a variety of tickets – from a single-trip ticket to a 30-day
pass. Your phone is your ticket!
The free app also has a unique pass only available to purchase
within the app, a one day pass — with unlimited rides for the day
— for $4. Other features included in the app are the ability to plan
a trip with Google Transit or view live updates through TransIT’s
Twitter feed.
ARRIVAL TIME AT YOUR TRANSIT STOP
Currently, all TransIT Connectors operate on a fixed route, or
deviated fixed route, with a scheduled arrival time at stops along
the routes. TransIT riders plan to arrive to their respective stops 5
minutes prior to their needed departure time. While the majority
of TransIT services arrive on time, there are factors that may affect
or delay services on route such as a road closure or bad weather.
These type of delays are unknown by riders, leaving them unsure
of the delayed arrival time.
To improve service to our customers, all TransIT Connectors will
be equipped with automatic vehicle location (AVL) systems. The
AVL system, provided by RouteMatch, will use GIS technology
to determine the real-time of arrival to the respective TransIT
stops. RouteMatch has an accompanying app, RouteShout, for
TransIT riders to download to their smartphones. The app will
display the location of TransIT vehicles in real time and provide
an estimated arrival at the rider’s stop. The technology will greatly
benefit riders because they will also be able to set alerts to notify
them of the arrival time to their specific stop, allowing the rider to
plan to arrive at their stop with minimized wait time.
Accompanying AVL, all TransIT buses will also be equipped with
automated passenger counters (APC). At this time, drivers use a
simple counter — categorized by fare type — when each passenger
boards the bus. At the end of their shift, the drivers are responsible
for collecting the data from the counter and adding it to their daily
shift report. Data from the shift report is then manually entered
into a spreadsheet. With the upgrade in technology to APC, data
will become real time and ridership fluctuations will be able to be
measured as minutely as location and time of day.
RIDE POLLUTION FREE
Aside from smartphone technology, TransIT is incorporating
vehicle efficiency and more environmentally friendly technology
into the fleet. This spring, five new fully electric buses will be
incorporated. The buses, brightly painted in eye-catching TransIT
green, are refurbished by Complete Coach Works and will run on
an all-electric charge.
The technology — a Zero-Emission Propulsion System (ZEPS)
— will benefit the Frederick community by reducing air pollution,
providing a quieter ride while running on county roads and
city streets, and saving the county money on fuel costs and
operations. By incorporating these buses into the fleet, TransIT
is demonstrating its commitment to the triple bottom line —
benefiting riders and residents around Frederick County by
providing transportation with a smaller environmental impact
that is more financially savvy on operating costs.
Frederick will be the first jurisdiction on the East Coast to receive
the refurbished all-electric buses. Their arrival could not have been
possible without the Federal Transit Administration, the Maryland
Transit Administration and the Maryland Energy Administration.
SPRING 2016 | FREDERICK COUNTY GUIDE
43