| Note
From the Director
Making
the Case for Regional Transportation Operations Collaboration and Coordination
The
Practice of Regional Transportation Operations Collaboration and Coordination
Regional
Transportation Operations Collaboration and Coordination and the Regional ITS
Architecture Development Process
A
Self-Assessment—Where Are You in Regional Collaboration and Coordination?
Applications
of Regional Operations Collaboration and Coordination Planning for Transportation
Operations:
TRANSCOM’s Regional Approach to Operations
Southern California ITS Priority Corridor
Maryland CHART
Capital Wireless Integrated Network (CapWIN)
Baltimore Regional Operations Coordination (B-ROC)
Project
Montgomery County ATIS
Cross-Jurisdictional Signal Coordination in Phoenix
San Antonio’s Advanced Warning to Avoid Railroad Delays
(AWARD) Project
San Antonio Medical Center Corridor Project
Phoenix’s Roadway Closure and Restriction System (RCRS)
Ventura County Fare Integration
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Ventura County Fare Integrationxi
Between January 1996 and October 1999, an automated, integrated transit-fare collection system was field tested in Ventura County, California. The purpose of the system was to create a seamless fare payment system across transit agencies in the region. It was hoped that the system would encourage, accommodate, manage, and assess travel patterns of passengers among transit systems. In addition, the transit agencies involved hoped to improve data collection and reporting processes.
The payment card system was devised based on smart card technologies and called the Smart Passport. The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) coordinated the project. The benefits that VCTC hoped to achieve were:
- Regional payment system coordination;
- Seamless regional travel;
- The concept of “one account” or one payment device for regional transportation; and
- Cost sharing among partners.
Due to problems with the system, the project did not realize the expected benefits, but instead resulted in a list of lessons learned to be applied to any future implementations of the system. The field test was considered to be a positive step toward regional, multiagency coordination.
 Structure
- Initial support came from eight transit operators interested in an integrated fare system, a seamless transit system, and improved data collection and reporting processes. These operators were already cooperating to devise an integrated transit system before the Smart Passport project.
- In coordinating the project, VCTC gained the support of participating agencies and operators by discussing the potential benefits of the system.
Processes
- The project was closely monitored to determine its benefits and needs for improvement. Although the benefits could not be quantified, lessons learned were compiled for use in future integrated fare card systems. The lessons learned will allow decision-makers to better understand critical issues and potential benefits before investing.
Products
- VCTC and the participating agencies signed memorandums of understanding stating that VCTC would act as lead agency and would be solely responsible for contractual and financial issues.
- Surveys were conducted to determine users’ opinions of the Smart Passport.
- As a result of the project, a set of issues was identified that transportation planners and service providers need to examine before planning or implementing a multiagency fare collection system.
Resources
- The project was funded by Caltrans and USDOT.
- As a result of the project, VCTC recognized that staff resources must be commensurate with the project’s scope. This means that more managerial, technical, and administrative staff would be needed for any future implementation of the system.
Performance
- All agencies involved agreed that system performance measurements should have been established during the planning phase of the project, and these measurements must be applied regularly throughout the project to monitor performance.
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xi
“Ventura County Fare Integration—A Case Study,” September 2001. Prepared by Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, September 2001.
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