TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 53: Operational Experiences with Flexible Transit Services examines transit agency experiences with "flexible transit services," including all types of hybrid services that are not pure demand-responsive (including dial-a-ride and Americans with Disabilities Act paratransit) or fixed-route services, but that fall somewhere in between those traditional service models.

This synthesis will be of interest to transit agency staff and those who work with them in dealing with common wheelchair securement on transit buses. It offers information on existing programs in many countries and documents transit agency experiences for the benefit of others considering similar deployments, in particular with respect to the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and to its use in U.S. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. The report describes the state of the practice with respect to the use of rearfacing position for accommodating common wheelchairs (as defined by the ADA) on large transit buses (more than 30,000 lb) and identifies pertinent issues related to its transferability to the U.S. context.

The scope of this synthesis is to (1) search out useful information on the use of computer-aided scheduling and dispatch (CASD) in demand-responsive transit (DRT) services, (2) develop an amalgamation or compendium of the current knowledge and successful practices used in computerizing the functions necessary to efficiently and effectively operate such DRT services, and (3) report on measures used to resolve specific problems in planning and implementing CASD. The ultimate objective in compiling a considerable storehouse of information is to make this information available to the public transit community. Private and nonprofit organizations that are providing DRT services will similarly benefit from a review of these results.

Ch. 1. Introduction. Project background and objectives. Technical approach to the project. Report organization -- ch. 2. Literature review. Underlying technology. Mobile device technology. Characteristics of the mobile information. Resources required to provide mobile services. Contribution of mobile messaging to an overall agency communications strategy -- ch. 3. Characteristics of underlying technology. Mobile technology, and mobile information. Underlying technology and real-time mobile message types. Mobile technology. Characteristics of real-time information provided on mobile devices -- ch. 4. Resource requirements -- ch. 5. Contribution of mobile messaging to agency communications strategy -- ch. 6. Case studies. Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Portland, OR). Bay Area Rapid Transit District (Oakland, CA). LeeTran (Lee County/Fort Myers, FL). Transport for London (London, United Kingdom) -- ch. 7. Findings, lessons learned, and conclusions. Summary of project scope. Project findings. Lessons learned -- Conclusions -- Suggestions for future study -- References -- appendix A. Bibliography -- appendix B. Survey questionnaire -- appendix C. List of agencies responding to the survey -- appendix D. Additional information.

This primer is intended to demonstrate how vital smartphones are becoming to the transportation network and provide public agencies, transportation managers, and elected officials with a perspective and understanding the role of smartphones in identifying services and choices for individuals and influencing travel behavior. Whether a sophisticated or new adapter to smart phones, this publication provides the foundation to maximize the value of this new technology as well as a history of how the technology has developed and could benefit commuters. This report also outlines the challenges including protecting consumer privacy and data that is more widely available through thie smartphone apps . Other products that may be of interest: YouTube War: Fighting in a World of Cameras in Every Cell Phone and Photoshop on Every Computer can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/008-000-01071-4 Transportation Security collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/security-defense-law-enforcement/transportation-security Other publications produced by the United States Department of Transportation can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/agency/199

Provides a variety of approaches to transit bus service line and cleaning functions so transit agencies can evaluate the effectiveness of their own operations.

"TRB's Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) Synthesis 104: Use of Electronic Passenger Information Signage in Transit documents U.S. and international use of electronic passenger information signage in terms of the underlying technology, sign technology, characteristics of the information, resources required, and decision processes used to determine its use"--Publication page.