GIS Application Support

of Operations-Based
Programs at NJ TRANSIT
Glenn Newman PLSPLS, PP
PP, AICP
Director, GIS Transportation
NJ TRANSIT
973 491 7849
gnewman@njtransit.com

April 2011
Introduction
 NJ TRANSIT – Who
Wh we are
 GIS Unit – Data Development overview
 Bus Operations Programs referencing GIS datasets
 Customer Information Programs supported by GIS datasets
 Data support
pp pprogram
g challenges
g
 Organizational challenges
 Next Steps
 Summary
 Maps
NJ TRANSIT - Who We Are
 New Jersey’s public transportation corporation-
serves over 900,000 daily trips:
 259 Bus Routes
 12 Commuter Rail Lines
 3 Light Rail Lines
 Third largest public transit provider of bus, rail,
and light rail trips in US:
 Links New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia
 Nation’s largest public transit system by service
area (5,325 square miles)
 S t includes:
System i l d
 19,500 bus stops
 3052 buses
 164 commuter rail and 61 light rail stations
GIS Unit Overview
 Geographic Profile of Bus Operating Plan (Geodecisions)
 Bus route, bus stop locations
 Stop sequences on operating patterns
 Rail Mapping/Video (AECOM)
 LiDAR mapping of 450 mile ROW
 Track video for engineer/conductor qualifying exam preparation
 Trailblazing
g Sign
g Installation (In
( procurement)
p )
 Trailblazing sign installation/maintenance
 Transit Map Development (Michael Baker Jr, Michael Hertz Assoc)
 Station Area Maps
 Station Directories
 County Bus Schematics
 Transit System Maps
Bus Data Overview
 B Operating
Bus O ti P Patterns
tt
 Patterns – revenue based bus trips with unique series of timepoints
 NJT bus network consists of 2400+ patterns
 D t developed
Data d l d thru th GeoMedia
G M di Transportation
T t ti Manager
M (Intergraph
(I t h Inc.)
I )
 Derived from schedule extracts and route descriptions
 Bus Stop Locations
 19,500 stops positioned using GPS, statewide Orthophotography
 Locations verified via field inspections and existing AVL programs
 Pattern Stop Process
 Oracle based application combining Schedule/Bus Stop Inventory/GIS datasets to
generate bus stop sequences on all NJT operating patterns
 Customized application developed by GeoDecisions, Inc.
 In Production since 2005
Bus Data Overview (Cont.)
 Pattern stop output -Primary
Primary reference for downstream bus operations and
customer service applications
 Stop description, lat/long, timepoint-stop associations, stop sequences, stopping distances, date
stamp
 Stopping distances generated via linear referencing along pattern alignments registered to
Navteq
 Several sources linked to create a single data set:
 GIS (GeoMedia/Oracle)
 Schedule (HASTUS/Oracle)
 Bus stop inventory (NJT developed application in Oracle)
 Pattern stop
p Process implemented
p dailyy
 Multiple programs linked to single dataset.
 KEY rationale for integrated dataset!
Bus Data Overview (Cont.)
 Bus patterns updated
B d d prior
i to quarterly
l and
d holiday
h lid service
i
changes
 Pattern traces register to Navteq commercial street dataset
 Bus stops generated in response to requests by
g y p
agency/municipalities
 NJT Service area includes approx. 400 municipalities
 Stopp changes
g occur in towns across NJT service area on dailyy basis
B Operations
Bus O ti – Automated
A t t dVVehicle
hi l IImplementation
l t ti (AVL)

 AVL Programs Currently Implemented

• Automated Voice Annunciation -2009
• AVL Programs to be Deployed – Dec’12
• Automated Passenger Counting
• Real Time Passenger Information
• Automated Vehicle Maintenance
AVL Implementation
I l t ti – GIS Support
S t

Primary Input -Pattern

Pattern Stop/Schedule data
• Geographic locations/stop sequences
• Loaded via Wireless WANS at garages
• Generated frequently as stop changes
occur
• “GIS Loader”– Geodecisions 2010
• Provides incremental changes
g to
operating pattern alignments
• Supplements initial field survey efforts via
survey van
• Offsets
Off t costst off continuously
ti l ddeployed
l d
survey van
• To be Implemented in Production -Spring
2011
Customer Information Programs Referencing GIS Datasets

 Automated Transit Information

System (ATIS)
 ATIS (Trapeze)
(Trapeze)- primary
customer information software

 GIS dataset implemented as

primary
i iinputt iin 2010

 ATIS exports provide data

source for NJ TRANSIT info on
Google Maps
Data Support Program Challenges

 Large service area

 Five (5) full time staff
 19
19,500
500 bus stops…changes
stops changes occur on
daily basis
 2,400 bus patterns; subject to change
in quarterly/holiday service changes
 Map updates (36 counties extending
in four states) required once/year.
 Map update critical for support of
Bus Operations AVL applications
and paratransit operations
Organizational/ Technical Challenges
 Cooperation
C ti between
b t departments
d t t
 GIS Unit not part of Bus Operations or
Customer Service Departments
 Cultivate working relationships
 Many map requests done before we
were ‘on the map’
 HASTUS Schedule,
S h d l Bus
B Stop
S Inventory,
I
GIS datasets were disparate datasets
 Schedule/Bus Stop Inventory on
mainframes
i f prior
i tto O
Oracle
l migration
i ti
 Migration to Oracle occurred in
2006
 Critical element to promoting data
integration and accuracy
Transit Map Web Application
 Intranet web application (GeoMedia
WebMap)
 Bus routes, bus patterns
 Bus stops
 Timepoints
 Street base
 Rail system
 Benefits
 Easy access to datasets
 Promotes familiarity/ confidence with
data
 Maps/analyses can be prepared by
non-GIS staff
 Updated daily, accessible
to all agency staff
Update of Navteq Map Base
 GeoMedia
G M di F
Fusion/
i /TTransportation
t ti
Manager implemented for update
process
 Map update effort to occur annually
 Challenges
 Ensure conflated data does not
adversely impact downstream
applications
 Design efficient workflow that can be
accomplished in a two-three
two three week
window between service changes
Summary
 The integrated
Th i dddata set aides
id ini providing
idi the
h following
f ll i
benefits directly to NJT’s passengers:
 Smart Bus real time information and on on-board
board announcements of stop
locations, transfers and major destinations provide clarity to
passengers
 Integrated data in trip itinerary planner provides accurate information
to passengers
 Precise map displays provided to Google Maps enable accurate
planning
l i bby customers
 Allows NJT to manage customer feedback and error resolution more
efficientlyy
Q
Questions