RouteMatch Software will roll out its intelligent transportation system to 39 North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) transit systems.
By standardizing on RouteMatch's technologies, the NDDOT will be able to help transit agencies improve operational efficiencies, supporting the region's growing ridership demand and coordination efforts.
Transit systems in North Dakota will receive RouteMatch's core scheduling, dispatching, route optimization module and tablet mobile data devices for automated vehicle location, reducing paper, and improving driver and dispatcher communications.
Since RouteMatch's technologies are deployed through the Cloud, transit agencies benefit from faster deployment and access to shared resources without the need for large hardware costs and IT support.
The City of Grand Forks, for example, has experienced savings of $85,000 annually by gaining greater visibility into data and refining American Disabilities Act (ADA) eligibility and verification for its contracted demand response services. In addition, tablet mobile data devices installed on its vehicles have helped reduce idle time, save on fuel costs and maximize the use of vehicles. RouteMatch has enabled more streamlined billing and verification of trips by funding source, and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reports can be more quickly and accurately run.
"We have had an over 30% spike in ridership over the past few years, and we want to concentrate on customer service and running efficient operations," said Dale Bergman, transit director of Grand Forks' Cities Area Transit (CAT), which runs 55,000 demand response and 329,000 fixed route trips annually.
Cities Area Transit was asked by the NDDOT to be the pilot for a regional and statewide coordination project that would upgrade Cities Area Transit call center and website to provide "One-Call/One-Click" functionality, and equip rural transit providers in North Dakota with computer-assisted scheduling and dispatch software. After fully implementing the pilot project, the NDDOT plans to implement the same model in other regional centers throughout the state.
While transit agencies gain benefits of moving from a manual system of running operations to technology and diversifying their range of technologies, the NDDOT will use the technology for centralized data management and standardized reporting. Automated and more consistent documentation of transit agency information and streamlined processes will help the Department more closely follow FTA guidelines and reporting requirements.
The NDDOT will also extend RouteMatch Software's platform for transit asset management for preventive vehicle maintenance, as well as to manage the "One Call/ One Click Call Center," enabling providers to schedule information from start to finish with multiple transportation providers. With this approach, transit agencies can more effectively serve community health and human service providers, medical facilities and nursing homes that rely on public transportation for their clients.
