This paper describes an important study set up by the Dakota Area Resources and Transportation for Seniors (DARTS) service in Dakota County, Minnesota, USA. DARTS provides a broad range of services to old people and people with disabilities. One of its primary services is transportation, including the provision of buses equipped with wheelchair lifts. 60% of all its trips are for medical and other essential purposes. The DARTS study to test the combined application of a wide range of advanced transit technologies aims to: (1) improve responsiveness and service to users; (2) enhance user interfaces; (3) increase DARTS's system capacity; (4) increase cost-effectiveness; (5) increase DARTS's revenues; and (6) improve coordination with other transport services. Advanced technologies, applicable to paratransit, include: (1) management information systems; (2) computer-aided scheduling; (3) automatic scheduling; (4) computer-aided dispatching; (5) wireless communication; (6) automatic vehicle location (AVL); (7) smart card technology; and (8) smart bus technology. The paper also summarises a vendor survey and a user survey, gives implementation cost estimates, and assesses the impact and financing of the new DARTS system.
Samenvatting