Some Factors to Consider

Planning

• Develop a well-structured procurement plan with performance oriented-requirements and thorough specifications.
• Involve staff from various departments and outside stakeholders such as contractors.
• Visit peers at other transit agencies or government agencies, especially local peers, to explore communication system integration or joint deployments.
  • A wireless infrastructure should be shared in a regional context to minimize duplication and costs.
• For agencies that are currently using or contemplating deploying multiple technologies on their buses, ensure that any communication network has sufficient channel or bandwidth to handle the voice, text, data, or video transfer from the current, expanded, or new bus technologies. The communications network is the common component for all of these systems.

Implementation

• Perform rigorous testing of entire system to identify gaps in cellular or radio coverage.
• Consider installing back-up systems to ensure undisrupted communication in case of primary system failure.
• Equip background communications software and support system with virus, firewall, and other security protection.
• Expect a learning curve as drivers and dispatchers develop efficient communications techniques and learn to utilize the full functionality of the communication devices.
• Test the level of noise generated from any communications device with regard to the aesthetic nature on the bus riders and the impact to the customer's trip quality.

Integration

• Develop standard data-exchange protocols to be able to add compatible equipment from multiple vendors and to operate on different bandwidths and with a variety of communication technologies.
• Separate the communication components from any proprietary AVL/CAD/MDT systems to allow for open standards, which improve the ability to incorporate other technologies and enables easier system expansion. Agencies should look for such a deployment to allow for modular implementation and easy upgrading of other technologies.
• Involve representatives of the transit agency's Information Technology (IT) department. Transit bus communications should be linked to the IT network, not a separate system. This will ensure that the IT staff has reviewed the requirements and specifications and has signed off and budgeted appropriate staff to provide internal technical support.