Transit Cooperative Research Program
RESEARCH PROJECT STATEMENT
Project J-09, Task 12, FY 2004
(Posted date: 2/19/04)

eTransit: Electronic Business Strategies for Public Transportation
New and Emerging Information Technologies for Public Transportation

BACKGROUND Our society is vastly different from what it was just a few decades ago. The pervasiveness of technology has increased access to information and changed the way people work, communicate, and travel. The trend toward globalization has had a dramatic effect and the challenge to use technology to its fullest is ever present. As a result, many transit agencies face decisions about which technologies are most appropriate for their use.

The Internet and personal information and communication devices as well as on-board vehicle and passenger technologies have revolutionized the way services are delivered and organizations are structured in many industries. Expectations have changed as customers have become accustomed to obtaining new information and services on a real-time basis. Behind the scenes, electronic business processes, real-time vehicle data, and wireless technologies are starting to change the ways that organizations operate and conduct business. Opportunities to lower costs and improve efficiencies have, in some key examples, changed relationships among transit agencies, their suppliers, and customers. Portals for government-to-government and business-to-government marketplaces have started to be offered through diverse organizations. Some transit agencies are offering or are preparing to offer customized itinerary planning and fare-media purchasing as well as real-time passenger information over the Internet. However, many transit agencies have been slow to adopt new technologies for a variety of reasons. Those reasons are thought to include: lack of information about new technologies and how they might be adapted to transit needs; lack of funding; fear of public failure in the adoption of new technology and attendant criticism; lack of knowledge and expertise in how to understand and sell the benefits of technology investments, particularly where benefits are not clearly quantifiable; and impediments posed by agencies' organizational structures, which tend to be hierarchical and command-and-control in nature.

The declining costs of communications, data storage, and data retrieval are accelerating the opportunities for both transit agencies and their customers. Transit managers, planners, and ITS professionals-- who must weigh the costs, benefits, and risks of changing the ways that services are delivered-- face challenges to their knowledge bases and skills. There is a need to understand the ground rules for successfully choosing and sequencing investments in technologies, processes, and people to reduce costs and increase productivity.

TCRP's e-Transit research program seeks to identify, develop, and promote research to maximize the benefits of e-commerce and other new technology applications for public transportation and mobility management. The e-Transit research program seeks to develop a road map for transit professionals to understand immediate as well as short-and long-term products and strategies, with an emphasis on quick delivery.


OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this research are to (a) provide those responsible for public transportation with the best thinking available on current and near-term information technologies and how they might be deployed in the service of public transportation; (b) provide information on emerging technologies; and (c) present critical evaluations of at least five emerging technologies that hold the most promise for public transportation and mobility. In this research, mobility is defined as the ability and knowledge to travel from one location to another using a multimodal approach, with one of the modes being a public transportation service.

The research is to determine ways that public transportation service could change through the adoption of new technologies and to analyze how technology can benefit the following:
· Public transportation in all settings: cities, suburbs, rural;
· Paratransit services: the high cost per ride for paratransit is of particular concern; and
· Operation of the entities responsible for transportation services (e.g., maintenance, supply chain management, etc.). For purposes of this research, current technologies are those currently in use in a transportation application, including those in use in Asia and Europe; near-term technologies are those that could be implemented in transportation applications within the next 3-10 years; and emerging technologies are those technologies that could be implemented in transportation applications in the next 10-20 years.

Near-term technologies include those listed below; however, researchers are free to select others:
· Wireless « hot spot » nodes on buses to enable Internet access from transit vehicles and facilities, and
· Imaging and data systems that can uniquely identify an employee by fingerprint, eye, or other feature. For current and near-term technologies, the researchers will analyze technologies to determine their capabilities to transform--either through method and modes of service or through lowering the cost of public transportation operations, including support operations. The researcher should select those that appear to have the greatest benefit and describe how they might be applied, what the benefits would be, and the range of costs involved. Accomplishment of the project objectives will require at least the following tasks.

TASKS

Task descriptions are intended to provide a framework for conducting the research. The TCRP is seeking the insights of proposers on how best to achieve the research objective. Proposers are expected to describe research plans that can realistically be accomplished within the constraints of available funds and contract time. Proposals must present the proposers' current thinking in sufficient detail to demonstrate their understanding of the issues and the soundness of their approach to the research objective. Task 1. Develop and conduct a comprehensive survey to obtain information on the following:
(a) to what extent transit agencies worldwide are using various types of information technologies; (b) the experiences of transportation providers that have deployed newer technologies; (c) the range of objectives transit agencies might have for using current and near-term technologies;

(d) the promises these technologies may hold for transportation operations and the people they serve; probe whether the current and near-term technology mean better access to transit services and better response to particular transit-market segments (e.g., commuters, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, rural customers, and low-income riders);

(e) the obstacles that may impede the adoption of these current and near-term information technologies, in public transportation and mobility services. Obstacles might include institutional, organizational, and cultural factors, governance structures, contracting processes, lack of interface/data standards amongst vendors and products, absence of a healthy business environment, and difficulties in justifying technology investments.

Prepare a technical memorandum providing the results of this task.

Task 2. Describe the value that current and near-term technologies will provide for the transit industry in qualitative and quantitative terms. For example, how would customers perceive transit services based on these information technologies and how is that perception measured? What are the business returns and experiences of transit agencies and others that have introduced current and near-term information technologies? What might the potential benefits and justifications be for expending funds on these technologies? What would be the urgency or potential payoff justification for these investments? Discuss the experience of organizations in the transportation sector and outside it that would assist the audience in understanding issues around development of a business case and value creation.

Task 3. Identify ways of overcoming the obstacles identified in Task 1(e). The researchers should discuss their findings not only in response to the promise of current and near-term information technologies for existing organizations, but also in relation to earlier TCRP new paradigms research including TCRP Reports 53, 58, 97 and TCRP Research Results Digest 55. Researchers should also identify the ways that the typical structure of and relationships among entities responsible for public transportation (e.g., transportation departments, mass transit agencies, city traffic engineering departments) facilitate or impede the improvements in public transportation that information technology may enable. Identify organizations, both in and out of the transportation sector, that have overcome the kinds of obstacles that are identified.

Task 4. Identify and synthesize best practices where current and near-term information technologies have been (or are expected to be) successful in improving customer service/relations and transit operations management. Provide links to relevant web sites that contain pertinent literature or relevant information.

Task 5. Prepare an interim report that documents the results of Tasks 1 through 4.

Note: The research plan shall provide a 1-month period for review and approval of the interim report. An interim meeting of the project panel to discuss the interim report with the research agency will be required. The research agency shall not begin work on the remaining tasks without TCRP approval.

Task 6. Collect and review relevant literature, research findings, and other appropriate material for the purpose of identifying five emerging technologies that have the greatest potential to transform public transportation, either through the method of service or through lowering the cost of providing transportation services.
* Radio Frequency Identification Tags (RFID)

Task 7. Using information gathered in Task 6, discuss the five emerging technologies and how they might be applied, what the benefits would be, and the range of costs involved.

Task 8. Prepare hypothetical case studies that provide the following information: (a) a summary of the five emerging technologies addressed in Task 7; (b) an evaluation of the potential impacts the of emerging technology on transit operations; and (c) the extent to which each emerging technology is expected to be successful in addressing the transit customer, service planning, and operations management.

Task 9. Prepare a final report documenting the entire research effort with an executive summary and include recommended next steps and the need for further applied research.

Funds Available: $250,000

Contract Time: 18 months (includes 2 months for TCRP review and approval of the interim report and 2 months for TCRP review and contractor revision of the final report)

Staff Responsibility: Ms. Gwen Chisholm Smith, 202/334-3246 (gsmith@nas.edu)

Authorization to Begin Work: July 2004--estimated




SPECIAL NOTES

A. Proposals are evaluated by the TCRP staff and project panels consisting of individuals who are collectively knowledgeable in the problem area. Selection of an agency is made by the project panel considering the following factors: (1) the proposer's demonstrated understanding of the problem; (2) the merit of the proposed research approach and experiment design; (3) the experience, qualifications, and objectivity of the research team in the same or closely related problem area; (4) the plan for ensuring application of results; (5) the proposer's plan for participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises--small firms owned and controlled by minorities or women; and (6) the adequacy of the facilities.

NOTE: The proposer's plan for participation by Disadvantaged Business Enterprises should be incorporated in Item 5 of the proposal.

B. Proposals shall include a task-by-task breakdown of labor hours for each staff member as shown in Figure 5 in the brochure, "Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals" (http://www4.nas.edu/trb/crp.nsf under "Current RFPs [Requests for Proposals]"). Proposals also shall include a breakdown of all costs (e.g., wages, indirect costs, travel, materials, and total) for each task.

C. TCRP projects are intended to produce results that will be applied in practice, and proposals and the project final report must contain an implementation plan for moving the results of the research into practice. Item 4(c), "Anticipated Research Results," in each proposal must include an Implementation Plan that describes activities to promote application of the product of this research. It is expected that the implementation plan will evolve during the project; however, proposals must describe, as a minimum, the following: (a) the "product" expected from the research, (b) the audience or "market" for this product, (c) a realistic assessment of impediments to successful implementation, (d) the institutions and individuals who might take leadership in applying the research product, (e) the activities necessary for successful implementation, and (f) the criteria for judging the progress and consequences of implementation.

D. Item 5 in the proposal, "Qualifications of the Research Team," must include a section labeled "Disclosure." Information relevant to the TCRP's need to ensure objectivity and to be aware of possible sources of significant financial or organizational conflict of interest in conducting the research must be presented in this section of the proposal. For example, under certain conditions, ownership of the proposing agency, other organizational relationships, or proprietary rights and interests could be perceived as jeopardizing an objective approach to the research effort, and proposers are asked to disclose any such circumstances and to explain how they will be accounted for in this study. If there are no issues related to objectivity, this should be stated.


E. The research on current technologies is intended to help CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and CIOs understand the benefits of technology investments for their day-to-day operations, for both internal operations and service to the public. The audience for the near-term technologies research is planners, strategist, technologists, and transportation agency leadership: the research is to assist them in planning for the future. The audience for the emerging technologies research is technologists, academics, researchers, and mobility professionals as well as visionary agency leadership. The purpose is to look to the future to determine where technology in general is going and what implications this will or should have on planning, operations, and capital investment decisions. This research is expected to be valuable as institutions attempt to determine how best to provide mobility in the future, by focusing on what decisions should be made today to prepare of the future. This research might also lead to a decision to increase the ability and capacity for individuals and institutions to embrace and adopt technologies that hold significant future promise. It is also anticipated that this research would provide a strong impetus for public transportation and mobility professionals to start applying new and emerging technologies in the present, especially where there is potential to make public transportation more attractive to a broader range of customers.


Proposals (20 single-bound copies) are due not later than 4:30 p.m. on April 8, 2004.

This is a firm deadline, and extensions simply are not granted. In order to be considered, all 20 copies of the agency's proposal accompanied by the executed, unmodified Liability Statement must be in our offices not later than the deadline shown, or they will be rejected.

Delivery Address:

PROPOSAL-TCRP
ATTN: Dr. Robert J. Reilly
Director, Cooperative Research Programs
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001

Liability Statement

The signature of an authorized representative of the proposing agency is required on the unaltered liability statement in order for the TCRP to accept the agency's proposal for consideration. Proposals submitted without this executed and unaltered statement by the proposal deadline will be summarily rejected. An executed, unaltered statement indicates the agency's intent and ability to execute a contract that includes the provisions in the statement.

Here is a printable version of the Liability Statement (pdf). A free copy of the Adobe Acrobat PDF reader is available at http://www.adobe.com.


General Notes

1. According to the provisions of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 21, which relates to nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs, all parties are hereby notified that the contract entered into pursuant to this announcement will be awarded without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability.

2. The essential features required in a proposal for research are detailed in the current Transit Cooperative Research Program brochure entitled "Information and Instructions for Preparing Proposals." Proposals must be prepared according to this document, and attention is directed specifically to Section IV for mandatory requirements. Proposals that do not conform with these requirements will be rejected. This brochure is available here. Requests for a hard-copy brochure should be addressed to:

Brochure-TCRP
Transportation Research Board
2101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20418

In the interest of saving paper, reduced mailing costs, and ease of handling, it is desired that proposal pages be printed on both sides using the lightest bond weight permitting such practice and maintaining margins of less than 1 inch.

3. The total funds available are made known in the project statement, and line items of the budget are examined to determine the reasonableness of the allocation of funds to the various tasks. If the proposed total cost exceeds the funds available, the proposal is rejected.

4. All proposals become the property of the Transit Cooperative Research Program. Final disposition will be made according to the policies thereof, including the right to reject all proposals.

5. Potential proposers should understand that follow-on activities for this project may be carried out through either a contract amendment modifying the scope of work with additional time and funds, or through a new contract (via sole source, full, or restrictive competition).



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