Volpe Center Highlights
Human and Natural Environment
Focus |
Safety |
Mobility |
Human and Natural Environment |
Economic Growth and Trade |
National Security |
Published and Presented
April 1996
Protect and enhance communities and the natural environment affected by transportation. |
Report Published on Innovative Transit Fare Collection Methods (FTA)
A report by Ms. Judy Schwenk, of the Volpe Center's Service Assessment Division, entitled "Using Credit Cards to Pay Bus Fares in Phoenix," was recently published. This is one of a series of reports written over the past three years documenting and evaluating innovative programs in transit services and fare collection methods, sponsored by FTA's Service Innovation Division. The report focuses on two programs implemented by the City of Phoenix Public Transit System using magnetic card readers on electronic fare boxes installed on their buses. The first program, "Bus Card Plus," bills employers for bus trips made by employees using employer issued credit cards. The second is a program that allows passengers to use commercial credit cards, such as MasterCard and Visa, to pay for their bus fares. Both programs have been successful and have served as models for other transit agencies.
Development of International Ride Motion Evaluation Standards (FRA)
Dr. Donald Sussman, Chief of the Center's Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division, recently participated in a Warsaw, Poland meeting of the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee 108, Subcommittee 4. Dr. Sussman presented an annex, prepared by the Department, that was subsequently adopted as a part of ISO 2631-1, "Guide to the Evaluation of Human Exposure to Mechanical Shock and Vibration," and details methods of evaluation of passenger and crew response to ride motion related mechanical shock and vibration for fixed guideway transportation systems. Dr. Sussman is a member of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to TC108 and a U.S. Delegate to ISO.
Workshop on Smart Cards in Public Transit (FTA)
A workshop on smart cards and electronic payment systems in public transit, co-sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and FTA, was recently held in Oakland, CA. In support of FTA, the Volpe Center's Safety and Security Systems Division organized the workshop with the MTC, and Mr. Mike Dinning, chief of the division, served as its moderator. The objective was to provide information to the 23 transit operators in the Bay Area, who are collaborating with the MTC to establish an integrated regional fare system, with a common smart card for payment of transit fares on any mode. The MTC Director opened the workshop, which also featured speakers who described the most advanced applications of smart cards in transit in the U.S., Canada, the UK and Asia. In addition, participants discussed potential partnerships with senior managers from several of the largest U.S. banks, credit card, and telephone companies. Of particular note was a presentation by the Chief Financial Officer of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority of their plans to use the "VisaCash" smart card during the Summer Olympics.
Supporting Implementation of the Oil Pollution Act (USCG)
On March 21, 1996, Mr. Dom Maio, of the Center's Economic Analysis Division, served as a panelist in the first of a series of workshops on economic analysis of federal regulations sponsored by the Department's Office of Assistant General Counsel for Regulation and Enforcement. The workshop, "Risk Assessment: Practical Approaches," included Mr. Maio's overview of the on-going assessment of the aggregate impact of all rules under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA'90) for the Coast Guard. The presentation included the construction of event trees, development of baselines, estimating effectiveness factors via panels of experts, and development of a computation method that excludes most of the overlap and possible double counting of benefits. Separately, Mr. Maio served as guest luncheon speaker for a graduate student seminar series on Transportation and Society at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. He presented a 90-minute overview of the broad array of public policy-related efforts during his 25-year service at the Volpe Center, including recent Volpe Center activities in support of the Coast Guard's OPA'90 efforts to reduce the risk of oil pollution of the nation's navigable waterways.
Airline Industry to Receive Traffic Management System Data (FAA)
Effective in February 1997, the Volpe Center will assume the responsibility of providing live operational Aircraft Situation Data (ASD) to interested airline industry users. The data includes flight plans and aircraft position and track data provided by the Center-developed Enhanced Traffic Management System. The data is currently provided to industry through a program managed by the Air Transport Association under a cooperative R&D agreement with the FAA, which expires in February 1997. Recently, Center staff met with representatives of the FAA and the Air Transport Association to continue planning the transition of the program management to the Volpe Center. As a part of assuming this role, the Center is planning several system management improvements, including enhanced system monitoring and user support, and an improved communication scheme.