December 2007

Some Factors to Consider

Planning

• Develop a structured procurement plan, performance-oriented requirements, and specifications.
• Involve staff from various departments and outside stakeholders such as contractors.
• Visit peers at other transit agencies.

Implementation

The implementation process, from planning to having an operational system, can take two to three years for large agencies and less than a year for small agencies. The process includes:

• Training of drivers and dispatchers.
• Ensuring adequate staff for data analysis.
• Providing adequate data-storage capacity.

Integration

• Achieve interoperability with existing and planned ITS technologies. (Avoid proprietary interfaces between vehicle and dispatch-center components; look for open standards.)
• Ensure flexibility for changes in fleet size.
• Upgrade communications systems as required; test coverage and expect gaps in GPS coverage.