Parking & Transportation Services
Stanford, CA
Avail Customer since 2003
The Marguerite shuttle operates a maximum of 22 buses and in 2004-2005, Marguerite carried 1.2 million riders (4,800 daily rides).
Avail’s OmniPoint suite of products:
- CommandPoint - Computer Aided Dispatching and Automatic Vehicle Location
- ControlPoint - Vehicle solution including Mobile Data Computers with Automatic Next Stop Annunciation and Automatic Passenger Counters
- DataPoint - Data mining and analysis for operational personnel
- InfoPoint Web - Real-time service display for customer information via the Web
2002 - Avail Technologies contracted with Stanford University, Parking and Transportation Services (P&TS), to develop and implement ITS technology to their Marguerite shuttle, a free shuttle that runs on campus and between campus and other local public transportation. Avail worked with P&TS staff to define the ITS needs consisting of Computer Aided Dispatch, Communications Infrastructure, Automatic Vehicle Location, Mobile Data Computers, Automatic Passenger Counters, Automatic Next Stop Annunciation, Advanced Traveler Information System and Public Service Announcements. The Traveler information system then disseminates its information via Signage at the bus stops, wireless devices such at PDA’s, and the internet. Once designed, Avail procured the selected technology components in a competitive solicitation process consistent with the procurement regulations of Stanford University. Once procured, Avail integrated and implemented the technologies including the development of custom interfaces for the system to work as one homogeneous system with components from various vendors. Upon completion of the integration, Avail conducted an end-to-end test of the system at Avail’s facility with the customer as witness and tester to ensure that the designed and implemented system performed as expected. This factory acceptance test (FAT) also allows the customer to see the implemented solution and have a hands-on experience prior to the system arriving at their site. At the completion of the FAT, the system was packaged and sent to the customer site for installation. The Avail installation and engineering crew installed the system and then conducted a System Acceptance Test as a proof of operation for the customer. Avail now supports the deployed system thereby providing P&TS with an end-to-end solution. Stanford is into their third consecutive year with Avail for maintenance support.
2005 - Stanford expanded its fleet by 6 buses and contracted with Avail to perform the installation and testing of the ITS components.
Stanford's history of providing free transportation is as old as the university itself. In the late 1880's, while the University was in its construction on the farm of its proprietor's, the railroad baron Leland Stanford, Stanford ran a horse and 12-person buggy service to and from the train station just across El Camino Real. In 1909, the horse and buggy gave way to electric streetcars. That lasted until 1929, when the county ripped out the tracks to make room for widening El Camino. A private bus service took the place of rail, and in 1963 the city of Palo Alto agreed to subsidize it. In early 1973, following the formation of the Valley Transportation Authority, Stanford began providing a free shuttle service around campus as well as back and forth to the two local train stations and downtown Palo Alto. The university named the service, which at the time consisted of a couple of vans, after Marguerite, one of the Stanford family's original horses.
Initially designed to make coming to Stanford by train more convenient, the Marguerite remains most popular among staff and faculty. The other major users are students getting from place to place on the spacious campus. All routes on the system are free and open to the public.
For more information regarding this project or to request references, please contact us
