September-October 2022 - 13

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Changing passenger expectations require
transit agencies to get 'Clever' with solutions
iStock
Intelligent transportation systems offer
agency's a chance to enhance passenger
experiences by delivering more accurate
information.
1. Uninterrupted access to real-time
information is commonplace in today's
world. Thirty years ago, transit providers
were expected to transport the public
from A to B safely, but riders expect more
today. As expectations continue to evolve,
how can the rail industry position itself
to be sure to deliver, especially when
many rail cars are 20-30 years old?
Features like real-time disruption updates,
the latest news/sports/weather, information
on multi-modal connection points
and onboard Wi-Fi that were once options
are now expected by customers. Likewise,
transit agencies are currently seeking as
much operational information as possible
with respect to on-board diagnostics, passenger
count/loading and schedule adherence
throughout various times of the day.
These enhancements are seamlessly included
in the technical specifications for
new vehicle procurements but addressing
train cars currently in service requires a
strategic approach. The average life span
of a train car exceeds 40 years. Onboard
system overhauls are typically scheduled
12-15 years from the point of new vehicle
acceptance, often providing at least two
opportunities for system upgrades or additions
to be addressed. It's important for
transit agencies to engage with engineering
teams and consultants to define the
improvements and upgrades they'd like
to make to their aging rail cars three to
five years before the vehicle's scheduled
overhaul to make the most of each opportunity
for upgrades. This allows ample
time for the agency to create the necessary
technical specifications, system qualification
testing, procurement and award
timeframes ahead of implementation.
2. Agencies are focused on delivering
more features than ever while operating
under constrained budgets. What
can agencies do to increase their
efficiency while providing a more
feature-heavy experience to riders?
Agencies operating under a constrained
budget may want to take advantage of
new improvements in technology like onboard
passenger signage, which can now
provide a feature-heavy rider experience
while generating revenue for the agency.
Infotainment signs can now utilize
geolocation and spatial passenger information
to display targeted advertisements
onboard, creating a new revenue stream
for the agency. These signs shift from a
direct fixed-cost asset to a revenue-generating
source when amortized over a 10year
lifespan. In addition, using digital
infotainment signs eliminates the need
for wasteful printed advertisement signs,
frees up interior room onboard and creates
a better passenger experience.
3. There has been an emphasis on
increased sustainability throughout the
industry. We're now seeing a shift towards
battery electric vehicles in particular.
How can Clever Devices' experience
and technology contribute here?
In bus applications, there are several
concerns with battery electric vehicles,
including range anxiety, the potential of
creating a roadway obstruction due to a
stalled vehicle, operator behavior and
accurate vehicle diagnostics. Clever Devices
understands these concerns and has
developed an Electric Vehicle Monitoring
System (EVMS) for the bus sector in response
to the needs of our customers that
are introducing battery electric vehicles.
As rail vehicles with battery-electric
technology emerge into the market, lessons
learned from developing a bus-centric
EVMS solution can be integrated
and refined to meet the needs of the rail
operating environment. Factors such as
vehicle weight, track grade, weather and
location-dependent climatic operating
environments can significantly affect
the vehicle's battery performance. These
specific parameters must be considered
when designing an electric vehicle monitoring
system, as there is no one size fits
all solution.
4. How does being a multi-modal ITS
provider since 1994 inform Clever
Devices' approach to solving some of the
pain points in passenger rail today?
Historically, rail and bus have been two
very distinct worlds, with only some
traditional light-rail entities bridging
the gap. Clever Devices has experience
with and a deep understanding of each
mode of public transportation. This has
become increasingly valuable as agencies
face a changing passenger demographic
demanding seamless road/rail integration
and a superior ridership experience. Clever
Devices' undisputed leadership in the ITS
market in North America, combined with
our additional staffing of established rail
professionals, makes us well positioned for
the revolutionary changes forthcoming in
the passenger rail industry.
John Santamaria is senior vice
president of Rail for Clever
Devices. He is responsible
for developing and
executing short-term and
long-term business plans
to increase market share
in the rail industry.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 13
http://www.MassTransitmag.com
September-October 2022

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