Anchorage, AK
Avail Customer since 2003
Operates three fleets. The PeopleMover fleet consist of 50 fixed route vehicles. The Rideshare fleet consist of 25 vans. And the AnchorRIDE fleets 45 vehicles paratransit vehicles
CommandPoint – Computer Aided Dispatching and Automatic Vehicle Location
ControlPoint – Vehicle solution including Mobile Data Terminal with single point of log on, automatic passenger counters and automatic annunciation
DataPoint-Data mining and analysis for operational personnel
InfoPoint-Real-time service display for customer information
InterfaceModule – interface to third party fixed route and paratransit scheduling systems
Trapeze Software- RidePro, PASS, PASS-MON, FLEX, FLEX-MON, PASS-CT, PASS-SUS, and PASS-COM
TranSched- Sched21, TeleRider, and TeleDriver
Mentor Engineering- MDC
Data Radio- GeminiPD Radio Network
2003 - Avail worked with Anchorage’s staff to define the ITS needs through extensive interviews with all levels of municipal employees involved with the People Mover and the subcontractor involved with the AnchorRIDE services. Avail also met and briefed the MATS the Metropolitan Planning Organization for Anchorage to ensure compliance with the Regional ITS Architecture. The results of the needs assessment indicated that Anchorage required Fixed Route Scheduling Software, Fixed Route Operator Management System, an Interactive Voice Response System for fixed route, Carpool and Vanpool Ride Matching Software, Computer Assisted Reservations, Scheduling and Dispatch for Demand Response, Mobile Data Terminals / Automatic Vehicle Location for Demand Response, Computer Assisted Dispatch/ Automatic Vehicle Location for Fixed Route, Passenger Information System, and Electronic Ticketing. These systems have been integrated with operations via three major acquisitions over an 18 month period. The total cost estimates for these systems exceeds $4.2M.
2005 - The second acquisition of technology is underway with a CAD/AVL system for the fixed route operations. This includes the addition of Mobile Data Terminals, Automatic Passenger Counters and Wayside signage for the fixed route fleet. Avail will support the deployment of the technology by oversight management, extensive sell-off testing and complete system integration thereby providing Anchorage with an end-to-end solution. Avail Technologies is currently under contract with Anchorage’s Transportation Department to add ITS technology to their People Mover fixed route service, Rideshare program and AnchorRIDE demand response public transportation.
2007 - Avail’s CommandPoint dispatching workstations were installed which have provided the dispatchers the ability to monitor schedule adherence, onboard passenger counts, and vehicle location of the fixed route fleet. During this phase, TranSched- Sched21 was integrated with the system for fixed route scheduling. Avail’s ControlPoint (Fixed Route) hardware was installed in the fixed route vehicles, the in vehicle solution includes automatic next stop annunciation, APC’s, covert alarm capability, and an MDC which provides drivers with a single point of logon for the annunciation system, the farebox, APC’s and the headsign. The MDC also displays schedule adherence information to the driver helping the driver stay on schedule.
This phase of the project also included the installation of Avail’s InfoPoint (Real-Time Traveler Information System). The InfoPoint module includes signage at 10 key transit stops throughout the People Mover system. The signs display each route that travels through that specific location, and the estimated departure times of each of those routes. The InfoPoint module also includes a website interface that provides passengers route departure information. Using People Mover’s website passenger’s can display a map of their route which shows where the buses are currently located on that particular route. Utilizing InfoPoint People Mover can also display and announce public service messages through the signs and the website.
http://www.muni.org/transit
For more information regarding this project or to request references, please contact us
