Innovation
Innovation is the search and implementation of new concepts, services, methods, tools, or devices that challenge the status quo to modify and improve the way transit systems and mobility providers deliver their services in an effort to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of these services.
A Selection of Projects:
Senior Advisor, Transit Analytics Lab (TAL), University of Toronto Transportation Research Institute
- Provide advice, organize workshops, and serve as an interface with transit systems in order to build a forum for applied research on the effective use of Transit ITS and other automated data for transit planning, operations and management
- Encourage the application of tools developed by the TAL team to foster innovation in public transportation
- View Transit Analytics Lab (TAL) website
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation
Transit and COVID-19: Impacts, Responses, Technologies and Perspectives on the Future of Mobility
- Research conducted for the Strategic Policy and Innovation Office of Transport Canada
- Study summarized the impacts of the pandemic on mobility, transit and shared-use modes, challenges, responses by transit systems, issues affecting the future of the transit industry, recovery efforts to rebuild trust, and strategies to address the new normal facing transit
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Exploratory Review of Research, Benefits and Challenges of Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAV) for Vulnerable Populations in Canada
- Research conducted for Transport Canada and the National Research Council of Canada
- Study provided an international review of current CAV R&D from the perspective of vulnerable populations including the aging, persons with physical or cognitive impairments, and rural populations
- This international scan identified R&D projects and themes, summarized the potential benefits and challenges for vulnerable populations in relation to the deployment of CAV’s in Canada, and identified areas of potential research
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
TransitData 2020 International Symposium on the Use of Public Transit Automated Data for Planning and Operations
- Co-organizer of TransitData 2020 Symposium, 11-13 August 2020
- Designed call for submissions, developed program, managed interactions with over 90 speakers, and transformed in-person conference into virtual event
- Symposium attracted 250 registrants and 100 speakers from 19 countries
- View TransitData 2020 website
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Executive Briefing Paper on Integrated Mobility Partnerships
- Researched and prepared Executive Briefing Paper (in French) for the Montreal Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM)
- Paper addressed challenges encountered by various integrated mobility pilot projects with respect to the development of partnership agreements between transit agencies and various shared-use mobility service providers
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
International Review of Public Transit Fare Systems
- Researched and prepared broad international review (in French) on fare systems and structures for the Montreal Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM)
- Report provides an overview of fare systems and structures in the transit industry in North America and abroad, and outlines major industry trends related to pricing systems and structures, the relationship observed between fare structures and deployment of advanced fare collection technology, and various innovative practices that may be relevant to the ARTM and its partners
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Reference Manual for Planning and Design of a Travel Management Coordination Center (TMCC)
- Report researched and prepared for USDOT to explore how the concept of a Travel Management Coordination Center (TMCC) can serve a valuable role in integrating ITS and other technologies into the coordination of mobility services for the transportation-disadvantaged as provided by transit, paratransit, and human service transportation providers
- Objective of the reference manual was to provide guidance on how to plan and design a TMCC
- Identifies four major steps: assessment of barriers and key unmet needs; development of a vision of the desired customer experience; development of a TMCC Vision among stakeholders defining key organizational and technological choices across the nine stages of the provision of service; and the conduct of an ITS Systems Engineering project process
- Outlines key lessons as they relate to the institutional foundation needed to develop and sustain a TMCC and identifies many resources to assist those planning a TMCC
- View Reference Manual for Planning and Design of a Travel Management Coordination Center (TMCC)
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Transit and New Shared-Use Modes – Key Questions from the Transit Agency Perspective; a Discussion Paper
- Prepared for USDOT and ITS America
- Objectives of the Discussion Paper were to identify and categorize the key questions transit agencies should be asking themselves as they try to position themselves in the new arena of urban mobility and emerging shared-use modes, and to recommend supportive initiatives
- Key questions identified through discussions with experts have been categorized as follows: Policy Goal and Objectives; Transportation Planning; Data, Transit Planning / Service Design and Delivery; Relationship of Shared-Use Modes to DRT and Transportation Demand Management; Role of Technology – Travel Information; and Role of Technology – Payment
- View Transit and New Shared-Use Modes – Key Questions from the Transit Agency Perspective; a Discussion Paper
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
The Use of Intelligent Transportation Systems to Improve Transit Operations; a Discussion Paper
- Prepared for USDOT and ITS America
- Objectives of the Discussion Paper were: provide a high-level overview of efforts made to use ITS to improve transit operations, with a particular focus on proactive control and the use of decision support systems, and on Transit Signal Priority (TSP); identify various challenges in pursuing these objectives through ITS technologies; and recommend research and other initiatives that would enable transit agencies to make more effective use of ITS to improve operations
- View The Use of Intelligent Transportation Systems to Improve Transit Operations; a Discussion Paper
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation
The Use of Transit ITS Data for Planning and Management, and Its Challenges; a Discussion Paper
- Prepared for USDOT and ITS America
- There is a growing recognition among the most progressive transit systems that the data that would be created by Transit ITS (e.g. Automatic Vehicle Location, Automatic Passenger Counting, Advanced Fare Collection) is an incredibly valuable resource, which can be used to create information to enhance planning and management, and support business processes and decision-making.
- Objectives of this Discussion Paper were to: provide a high-level overview of the potential uses of Transit ITS data for planning and management purposes; identify the various challenges in using the data; recommend research and other initiatives that would enable transit agencies to make more effective use of the data, and position the transit industry for a future of ubiquitous data and data-driven decisionmaking
- View The Use of Transit ITS Data for Planning and Management, and Its Challenges; a Discussion Paper
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Challenges in Deploying and Achieving the Full Potential of Transit ITS; a Discussion Paper
- Prepared for USDOT and ITS America
- Transit ITS technologies have been developed and refined over the last 20 years, but there continues to be significant challenges faced by transit agencies in deploying Transit ITS and in reaping the many potential benefits offered by these systems
- This Discussion Paper provided a high-level strategic discussion of the many organizational and technical challenges facing transit systems, and makes suggestions aimed at the transit industry on possible avenues for addressing these challenges
- View Challenges in Deploying and Achieving the Full Potential of Transit ITS; A Discussion Paper
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation
Ongoing Support for USDOT’s Public Transportation ITS Activities
- Provided ongoing support for the public transportation ITS activities of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on behalf of ITS America for ten years
- Included conducting research, preparing discussion and white papers, identifying research needs, providing support for USDOT’s Public Transportation ITS Advisory Group, organizing workshops, etc.
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
YRT Transit Technology Review
- Conducted a benchmark for York Region Transit (YRT) of their current status of technology deployment, and an international review of new technological developments that might be of benefit to the service YRT provides
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation
Canada Transportation Act Review; Background Paper on Transportation-Related Technological Innovation
- Conducted a broad international benchmark review and strategic assessment of Canadian involvement in surface transportation technology for the Canadian Transportation Act Review Secretariat, and on behalf of ITS Canada
- Questions to answer included: How is Canada positioned with respect to transportation technology? How does it compare to the situation in peer countries? What useful observations and lessons learned can one gather from the situation in other countries and the strategies and initiatives they have pursued?
- View Surface Transportation-Related Technological Innovation in Canada and Abroad Report
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Support for Metrolinx’s Transportation Operations and Technology Activities
- Served as Senior Advisor to provide technical support in a variety of activity areas at the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority (Metrolinx)
- Areas included: regional fare integration, regional service coordination, development of regional traveler information tools, exploration of ITS needs, dissemination of ITS standards, dissemination of best practices related to Transit ITS including organizing a regional workshop on Transit Signal Priority, identification of issues and research on cross-boundary accessibility and community transportation, etc.
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Uses of Higher Capacity Buses in Transit Service
- TCRP Synthesis Report for the U.S. Transportation Research Board
- Explored the use of higher capacity (e.g. articulated, double-decker, and 45 foot) buses in transit service, and identified related planning, operations, maintenance, and safety experience
- View Uses of Higher Capacity Buses in Transit Service Report
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation
Transit Signal Priority (TSP): TSP Planning and Implementation Handbook
- Researched and conducted a national survey and case studies on experiences in implementing TSP across North America for the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the U.S. Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
- Prepared a TSP Planning and Implementation Handbook for practitioners
- View Transit Signal Priority (TSP): TSP Planning and Implementation Handbook
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Benchmarking Practice and Comparative Analysis, Innovation
Use of Rear-Facing Position for Common Wheelchairs on Transit Buses
- TCRP Synthesis Report for the U.S. Transportation Research Board
- Explored current practice in Europe and Canada with respect to the use of the “rear-facing position” for accommodating wheelchairs on low-floor transit buses, and issues resulting from the potential use of this approach in the US context
- View Use of Rear-Facing Position for Common Wheelchairs on Transit Buses Report
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation
Using Archived AVL/APC Data to Improve Transit Performance and Management
- Project team member for U.S. Transportation Research Board TCRP Report
- Objective of the reference manual was to provide guidance on how to plan and design a TMCC
- Explored the potential uses of location-based data produced using current AVL and APC systems through case studies, and developed standardized report formats
- Conducted case studies in Ottawa and Montreal, and organized a workshop with Transit ITS suppliers to explore enhancements to technology platforms to improve data collection and analytics
- View Using Archived AVL-APC Data to Improve Transit Performance and Management Report
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation, Policy Analysis and Implementation
Use of Small Buses in Transit Service
- TCRP Synthesis of Practice Report for the U.S. Transportation Research Board
- Survey of all North-American transit systems concerning the use of small buses in transit service, and researched several case studies of particularly innovative uses of small buses
- Report identifies key issues affecting the implementation of small buses in the transit industry
- View Use of Small Buses in Transit Service Report
Focus Areas: Applied Research, Innovation
