By Vicki Learn

When I became the director of maintenance for with IndyGo, the transit agency for Indianapolis, IN, I first began diffusing what I called my “demographic time bomb.” IndyGo’s maintenance team is getting older with most of our mechanics age 50 or older. I knew I had to keep my seasoned workers happy, while I sought new talent to avoid a high rate of attrition when they retire.
I began by paying attention to what would minimize physical discomfort and maximize employee efficiency. Several ergonomic changes inside the garage included purchasing thick rubber mats to help with tired feet, new computer screens with bigger type, bar-type stools to help relieve spine pressure while doing data entry and portable PC diagnostic units that wheel right up to buses.
Additionally, we have reduced fatigue by redesigning how we park our buses so employees don’t have to take as many steps to get to the service tracks. This is also a change that allows maintenance to spend more time working on the buses, and less time trying to find them.
To keep the company from being stuck between a rock and a hard place when these valued employees retire, we have started to cross-train our maintenance staff. We are allowing our general laborers to take technician courses to become certified and properly trained as attrition starts to set in. It’s a great investment that allows us to do maintenance on our maintenance team.
We also acquire future talent through internships and partnerships with high school diesel technology programs. Over the summers we work with phenomenal young men. We hired one such student from Arsenal Tech High School as a part-time laborer during his senior year and will continue to train him so he will want to continue his career with us as an expert mechanic.
These changes and proactive measures have been small investments that have yielded large dividends. Productivity has gone up and absenteeism has gone down. Listening to and caring about employees is a big part of my job.

Vicki Learn is the Director of Maintenance for IndyGo in Indianapolis, IN. IndyGo is the Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation, which provides public bus transit services throughout Marion Count, IN.

Last November the agency unveiled its seventh generation hydrogen fueled vehicle, the first of its kind “Buy America Compliant” American Fuel Cell Bus.

This year marks a milestone for SunLine Transit Agency, as we celebrate our 35th anniversary. Over the years, the agency has been at the forefront of providing the safe, reliable transit service using cutting edge technologically advanced vehicles, for residents and visitors in the Coachella Valley, California. Our plan is to continue down that road into our next 35 years.
When I arrived at SunLine in 2004, I quickly recognized the need to evaluate the entire transit system. A Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) was conducted, which included more than 20 public meetings held throughout the community to solicit input from those who use the service. From these sessions, our board of directors approved a plan that provided a strategic road map for how best to move public transportation forward.
Despite the state of the economy, SunLine has completed a number of the COA recommendations, including the realignment of routes to serve retail and commercial centers, frequency improvements and expansion of service. At a time when agencies around the country were cutting service, SunLine purchased 150 stand-alone bus benches and trash receptacles, as well as solar powered i-Stops (bus stop lighting) to service our 536 bus stops throughout the Coachella Valley. This provided comfort and safety for our riders.
I also realized the need of a bus replacement and expansion program, as the SunLine buses were fast approaching the end of their useful life. A program was put in place and the entire aging fleet was replaced with new technologically-advanced CNG powered buses, along with the agency’s new paratransit vehicles. It was the fleet’s first major makeover in 14 years.
SunLine has been the leader of alternative fueled vehicles in the transit industry beginning in August of 1994 when the agency converted its fleet of diesel-fueled vehicles to compressed natural gas vehicles. Our focus soon turned to further advancement of an environmentally-friendly fuel: hydrogen. In 2000 SunLine partnered with the California Fuel Cell Partnership in conducting a 13-month demonstration of the Zebus, a 40-foot New Flyer equipped with a Ballard fuel cell. The journey to providing public transit using hydrogen vehicles began.
Last November the agency unveiled its seventh generation hydrogen fueled vehicle, the first of its kind, “Buy America Compliant” American Fuel Cell Bus. Through the determination and support of the SunLine board and staff, partners and funders of the American Fuel Cell program, we once again demonstrated the commitment of the agency to the commercialization of hydrogen vehicles.
SunLine is uniquely positioned in the transit industry to assist the Federal Transportation Association in developing new commercial models for fuel cell technology and remains the best proving ground for advances in fuel cell technology. The FTA has further validated the success of the American Fuel Cell Bus Program and its support of SunLine by awarding the agency funding for two additional American Fuel Cell buses through the TIGGER Program, which works directly with public transportation agencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower energy use within transit operations. The agency also owns and operates SunFuels, its state-of-the-art public fueling station that produces hydrogen on property.
My goal, and the goal of the agency, is to continue the advancement of innovative transportation and alternative fuel technologies, while providing safe, high quality public transit services to the Coachella Valley. BR

C. Mikel Oglesby was introduced to public transit at a very young age by his father, who was a bus operator for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for more than 34 years. Oglesby has served as SunLine’s General Manager for eight years. He can be reached at moglesby@sunline.org.

By David Hubbard

CH Bus Sales will put the 30-ft Temsa TS 30 on exhibition during UMA EXPO 2012, Long Beach, CA.

The Temsa bus and motorcoach brands belong to Temsa Global and runs in more than 40 markets worldwide including Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The company has bus and coach production plants in Adana, Turkey and Cairo, Egypt, to offer myriad models that accommodate various transportation modes and the many needs of each regional market.

Now with the only 35-and 30-foot monocoque design motorcoaches available to North American operators, CH Bus Sales, Faribault, MN, the exclusive Temsa distributor in the U.S, will showcase the 30-ft TS30 model this month during UMA Expo 2012 in Long Beach, CA.

“This 30-foot coach length marks a significant addition to the small bus market in North America,” says CH Bus Sales President and CEO Robert Foley. “Operators are excited by the fact that it is an upscale option that is not body on chassis. Some applications of a cutaway are fine, but there are many instances where the use of a true motorcoach will perform much better.”
In addition to monocoque construction, the advantages of transporting up to 32 passengers in the smaller 30-foot coach, according to Foley, are the greater baggage capacity, the comfort of full-scale motorcoach seating and amenities and an onboard lavatory. Foley says bus and coach operators are trying to save costs without jeopardizing the quality they offer their customers.

“The shorter length Temsa models are becoming more attractive to operators who are not filling their 45-foot coaches on every trip,” says Foley. “These options save on the purchase price, insurance costs, mileage and lower tolls.”

Academy Bus Lines, Hoboken, NJ, Cardinal Bus, Middlebury, IN, and Pacific Coachways, Garden Grove, CA were some of the first North American operators to purchase the 35-ft coach Temsa introduced in 2008.  In the past quarter, Vandalia Lines, St. Louis, MO; Skyliner Tours, Astoria, NY; AFC Transportation, Houston, TX; Cavallo Bus, Springfield, MO; SFO Limo, San Francisco, CA; Rochester Bus Service, Hastings, MN; Jefferson Lines, Minneapolis, MN; and Bloomington Shuttle, Bloomington, IN, have put the Temsa TS35 into service.

Cardinal Bus operated three of the first units to arrive in the U.S. and has since traded these for three 2012 models equipped with EPA-compliant Cummins engines.

Dan Shoup, president and CEO of family-owned Cardinal Bus, says the 35-foot TS35 is a perfect fit for the smaller athletic teams his company transports.

Robert Foley serves as president and CEO, CH Bus Sales, Faribault, MN.

“We typically carry teams of 15 to 30 students for these smaller division schools,” he says. “We feel better and the clients feel better about them riding in a coach that is full, and the schools are far more confident with the Temsa coaches on longer trips.”

CH Bus Sales solidifies operation
Foley says the Temsa U.S. sales organization is in place and represents a wealth of industry experience.
Executive Vice President, Duane Geiger, heads the national sales team of Tim Vaught and Larry Williams in Texas and the South; Tony Mongiovi, New Jersey and the Northeast; Randy Angell, Midwest; and Randy Kolesar, Pacific and Western region. This group averages 20 years of experience in the motorcoach industry. The company reports it will add an account executive in the Southeast later in the spring.

“This team will wear several hats, but they enjoy the challenge and have the experience,” says Foley. “A lot has come together in the last four months.”

CH Bus Sales has opened a service facility in Orlando, FL, which has a consistent port pickup and customer delivery routine in place, in addition to performing outside service work for operators.

Duane Geiger serves as executive vice president, sales and service, CH Bus Sales, Faribault, MN.

“We currently have two established parts warehouses in Las Vegas and Orlando. We also have a solid warranty administration and after sales support team headed by Marvin Borntrager, who has 28 years of experience in the motor coach industry.  In addition to the two locations in Las Vegas and Orlando, we are assembling a reliable technical support network across the country” says Foley.

Foley says the service support growth begins with a collaborative effort with Creative Bus Sales, Chino, CA, which will add support in Chino, CA, Hayward, CA, Sacramento, CA, Elkhart, IN, Phoenix, AZ, Albuquerque, NM and Atlantic Beach, FL.  CH Bus Sales also has service arrangements with David Frank in the Texas area, C&J’s Bus Repair Service, Minneapolis, MN, and Perfect Body and Motor Coach Solutions in the Northeast. “Our plan is to have support in every major city in the U.S. and eventually in Canada,” says Foley. “We recently established our product research and development committee, which Tim Vaught leads. The committee, which includes operators and Temsa personnel, is reviewing our TS35 and TS30 models, along with our U.S. prototype of the 45-ft coach which we will introduce to North America this time next year.” BR

By David Hubbard

Daimler Setra first introduced the Setra TopClass S 471 to U.S. coach companies in 2003. Now the all-new 45-foot Setra ComfortClass S 407 unveiled one year ago by Daimler Buses North America, Greensboro, SC, has joined its sibling to offer operators a competitive choice in the Setra line, and one that is more suitable for commuter and line-haul service.
DATTCO, New Britain, CT, and the Martz Group, Wilkes Barre, PA, are the first U.S. coach companies to put the new model it into service.
While the new coach differs only slightly from the S 417, the development process entailed intensive operator surveys, in which American operators expressed very specific preferences and requirements that ultimately influenced the styling that distinguishes the S 407 from its sibling.
Martz Group CEO Craig Smith worked with Daimler Setra during the development of the S 407, advising the engineers on the functions and features that his company felt would best suit a coach dedicated to scheduled service operations. First of all, he told Daimler, it would need to be less expensive than the luxury charter S 417 without compromising the overall quality of the Setra brand.
Martz test drove the S 407 prototype for a 10-day trial period in March, surveying drivers, technicians, cleaners and commuter passengers and recommended several significant changes, which Setra accommodated. They included larger baggage bays with easier access, the lower-mounted rearview mirror system and the American-made energy absorbing rubber safety bumpers (ESAB) front and rear.
The front bumper folds down to allow access to the stowage compartment for the spare wheel. Setra says this new EASB system can resist a 5-mph impact without any damage.
Originally available only in black, Setra is now working to color code the ESAB as an option to match the customer’s paint scheme.
Satisfied with the product, Martz took delivery of seven ComfortClass S 407s in November.  The company opted for the 416 hp Mercedes-Benz OM 471 engine and automated 12-speed ZF-AS Tronic transmission in which the stick shift situated to the right of the driver. The company says some drivers prefer this configuration, as it does not interfere with the direct-connect cell phone apparatus.
“We assigned the new coaches to our senior drivers for the daily runs to New York City,” says Martz general manager, Bob Chepalonis. “They are proud to drive them and like the way they handle, particularly the tight turning radius.”
From northeast Pennsylvania, the Martz fleet turns 59 daily trips into New York City, two into Philadelphia and one into Atlantic City, NJ.
“We need a very dependable vehicle for this heavy-duty use of a coach,” says Martz director of maintenance, George Willis. “At the same time, it has to be as nice as we can make it for our customers.”
Chepalonis says the passengers on these runs are extreme commuters who ride the coaches on a daily basis and have a keen sense for what they like in their bus. For example, he says the upgraded wood grain flooring was not lost on this group who are on the coach for more than an hour each way throughout the week.
“Wi-Fi is a must on all our coaches, but the S 407s are the first with 110 power outlets at each seat,” he says. “Our commuter passengers have also commented on the additional legroom and the overhead parcel racks that lend a more spacious feeling in the cabin.”
DATTCO features Setra TopClass S 417s in its Experience Fleet for luxury charters. High-end features include leather seating for 40 passengers, glass roof and myriad top end amenities.
The company also operates and manages several routes for Megabus.com in the Northeast Corridor, running its own commuter coaches outfitted with the familiar blue graphics. Already familiar with the Setra brand, DATTCO was interested in the S 407 for its commuter capabilities and tested it on a dedicated route over the summer.
While not personally involved in the development phase of the S 407, DATTCO President Don DeVivo says he had read about the S 407 in BUSRide and saw the coach unveiled at UMA Expo in Tampa, FL, and then began talking to a Setra sales representative.
“For starters we put one S 407 directly into service for Megabus,” says DeVivo. “We wanted to see how it actually performed in our operation. There is nothing like a line run to give a new coach a thorough shakedown.”
The company took delivery of a second unit in September, becoming the first U.S. operator to purchase the new Setra model. The DATTCO coaches feature the Detroit Diesel and Allison WTB 500 automatic transmission.
“Setra has always been a nice ride, and our drivers enjoy the way they handle,” says DeVivo. “This new model has the same curb appeal and lends a definite buzz to the commuter experience. Now we’ll just have to see how it holds up in the daily grind running up to 500 miles a day.”
He says the coaches are meeting the test so far, but that he is reserving comment until they meet the test of 100,000 miles.  BR

By Oliver Hill

Crow Nation Transit brings needed service to the Reservation and surrounding communities in south central Montana.

Considering the high unemployment and poverty levels in the very rural Crow Nation, we badly needed a transit system. The subject had been under discussion for more than four years. The first two Crow Nation Transit minibuses began transporting passengers throughout the Crow County Reservation and Big Horn County in Montana in April 2011.
We got the wheels turning with the tribe by first asking the Community Transportation Association of America (CTAA) to contract LSC Transportation Consultants, Denver, CO, to conduct a formal study of the need for public transit in this region of Montana. They came back with a report that only confirmed community consensus that a very significant need existed and improved transit services could only help.
We created Crow Nation Transit, and with the help of the legal counsel for the Crow Tribe, submitted a grant application for startup funding with the Montana Department of Transportation, which award us $75,000.
The agreement stipulated that the new Crow Nation Transit would not just serve tribal members on the reservation, but also provide public transportation for all of Big Horn County and for students from outlying communities and Billings who attend Big Horn College. The operation transports passengers within approximately a 75-mile radius of Crow Agency, connecting the towns and communities that include Hardin, Lodge Grass, Pryor and Wyola. To reflect this, the board of directors includes a county commissioner, a representative from Big Horn College as well as the Crow Legislature and the Tribe’s director of tourism. We operate and maintain a small fleet of seven Ford and Chevy minibuses and conversion vans on our three initial routes.
With the organizational structure in place our new system received a $500,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration toward hiring agency personnel and covering our operational costs. Our future grant funding from the Federal Transit Authority over the next two years will ensure us a bus barn and bus stops along the routes.
In the short time we have been up and running, Crow Nation Transit has been operating temporarily from the Tribal fenced security yard. Because of the demand for service and the increasing ridership numbers we could show in each quarter of our first year, we will receive more 18-passenger minibuses in 2012 from the state and another through the Federal Transit Administration.
Ridership grew from 735 in the second quarter to 1,300 in the third quarter, and we were expecting to reach around 2,000 by the end of the year. When we began transit service in April, people were reluctant to take the bus, but they have been quick to catch on, especially when they consider the price of fuel for their own vehicles and that our bus routes take them to and from to where they need to go.
In fact, we are now at the point where some passengers get left behind on some trips as there is simply no more room on the bus. However, we do make the necessary arrangements for another driver to include an extra stop to return and pick them up. We currently have four drivers on staff and will add five substitute drivers in the near future to ensure continued service and to handle any overflow or emergency situation.
Because of public demand for new routes, we are presently considering service to and from Sheridan, WY, which would start next year. The folks in Sheridan are telling us they would like to see regular runs to the Apsáalooke Nights Casino in Crow Agency.  BR

Oliver Hill serves as transit director for the Crow Nation Reservation and Big Horn County, MT

The Go Seat from Freedman is a new choice for small and mid-size buses.

Freedman Seating, Chicago, IL, the family-owned seating manufacturing company for bus and truck markets, which Hyman Freedman founded over 100 years ago will introduce more new products and options in 2012 than any time in its 119-year history.
For openers, Freedman unveiled its new GO Seat for small and mid-size buses in September at BusCon in Chicago, IL.
The Freedman GO Seat is a modular design that allows preferential customizing. The lock-n-GO cushions allow replacement of the seat and back cushions in a matter of seconds, and the company says most components and accessories install easily after delivery.
“The GO Seat will be available Q1 2012,” says Dan Cohen, Freeman vice president, sales. “This new product meets all applicable federal seat belt standards for two- or three-point seatbelt systems.”
Freedman recently added a new online feature to its web site, Design Your Seat.
“Operators can now view any of Freedman’s 100-plus in-stock fabrics and vinyls on three different seat models without having to imagine how a seating configuration will look in their vehicles,” says Cohen. “All they have to do is click and view.”

The Gemini is the new product of 4ONE, a joint venture between Freedman and USSC.

Design Your Seat permits customers to experiment with a variety of insert and trim materials as well as cloth and vinyl combinations. Once a combination is chosen, the customer can save and print the design for future reference.
Because more riders and operators have grown more concerned about germs and cleanliness, Freedman is also introducing Sanitized® Anti-Microbial grab rails, which the company says are the first anti-microbial grab rails available to the transit industry. Cohen says with the active ingredients molded into the material Sanitized® grab rails provide protection for the life of the bus.
“The protection will not wear off or diminish over time,” he says. “Freedman will offer Sanitized® grab rails on its 3PT seats, Feather Weight seats, CitiSeats and 4ONE Aries and Gemini seats.”

4ONE and the Gemini
4ONE is the name of the 50-50 joint venture between Freedman Seating and USSC Group, Exton, PA, to produce passenger seats for the heavy-and-medium-duty transit and bus and motorcoach markets. Founded in 1986, USSC Group designs and markets seating for myriad transportation markets and entered the bus seat market only in 2000.

The plastic back shell meets head impact criteria (HIC) requirements and is available in a variety of textures.

4ONE unveiled its new collaborative product, the Gemini, in October at APTA Expo in New Orleans. According to USSC Group President Rick Klotz, this seat is the lightest transit seat made in North America. Using the latest pressure mapping technology, the company says it was able make the Gemini incredibly comfortable.
Washington, D.C. Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will equip 26 new Orion buses with the Gemini, scheduled for delivery later this year.
Klotz says WMATA is the first transit property to get the Gemini. Each of the new units will also feature two Q’Straint Q’Pod wheel chair restraint systems with VPRO II belts and, as well as the optional Sanitized® grab rails.
Available in aluminum, stainless or painted carbon steel, the complete ADA compliant mounting package includes pedestals and cantilevers, transverse and longitudinal seats or transverse and longitudinal flip-up seats.
The plastic back shell meets head impact criteria (HIC) requirements and is available in a variety of textures. BR

Los Angeles residents can now begin picturing a new urban design transit facility going up on 7.1 acres of land near the historic downtown Union Station. The three-level facility called Metro Division 13 will feature underground parking for employees, a main level for maintenance facilities, service, fueling and bus wash lanes, and an upper level for bus parking. The structure will also incorporate a number of ‘green’ technologies, including solar panels, high efficiency mechanical electrical systems and a water retention system that recycles and reuses rain water.

Design on the Metro Division 13 project began in January 2009 by Denver-based Maintenance Design Group.

Here are some Metro Division 13 project facts:

• More than 442,000 square feet of space
• Maintenance area is 71,000 square feet and room for 13 bays
• Space for more than 200 45-foot buses
• Nearly 400 employee parking spaces
• Construction cost is an estimated $80 million

Metro Division  13 is registered with the U.S. Green Building Council. Designers are hoping to obtain a LEED NC Gold rating.

The Paducah Area Transit equipped this elaborate semi rig as a rolling classroom to deliver driving instruction directly to rural transit properties and school districts.

FAAC entered the transit industry the day MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) recruited the company to adapt its simulator training concepts to train urban bus operators. The high degree of interactivity of the computer-generated imagery (CGI) intrigued the Department of Buses Safety and Training Division at a time the agency was under heavy public scrutiny for a recent spike in accidents. The chief training officer saw the simulator supplementing tradition training with additional seat time in a risk-free virtual environment focused on high-risk events.

NYCT and FAAC formed a public/private partnership to develop the first full-mission MB-2000-V8 Municipal Bus Simulator. The company went one step further equipping the simulator with physical mirrors to incorporate critical training tasks associated with setup, leaning technique, scanning frequency and managing the pivot point during turns or when overtaking fixed and moving objects. FAAC unveiled this simulator at the 1999 APTA Expo in Orlando, FL.

NYCT then conducted a pilot program to evaluate the effectiveness of the simulator. Prior to the simulator training, NYCT says the most prevalent type of collision was contact along the right side of the bus with a moving vehicle.

NYCT randomly selected one out of four students to receive two 30-minute sessions on the simulator with an emphasis on mirror usage, protecting the right side of the bus, and forward planning. FAAC says the simulator-based group of new hires performed better than expected. The participants experienced an incident rate 43 percent better than those trained without the simulator. Their washout rate also showed a 35 percent improvement.

The set up for the FAAC driving simulator and replicated driving compartment can be customized for any vehicle in any environment.

“Most importantly of the 177 graduates trained on the simulator not one experienced a right side accident during their 90-day probationary period,” says Steve Mentzer, FAAC manager, transit simulations. “We hit the mark.”

NYCT purchased three additional units to ensure new hire candidates would all receive the benefits of simulator-based driving lessons.

The NYCT pilot program convinced FAAC its new product supported the training initiatives of this agency. But according to Mentzer the company couldn’t be sure if this simulator would serve the rest of the industry in a similar manner.

“We decided the best way assess its potential would be to enlist the services of training professionals from other organizations,” says Mentzer. “As luck would have it the Transportation Research Board was about to release a study on simulation before the MB-2000 had been unveiled. The author of the TCRP study happened to see our simulator and asked us to arrange a demonstration.”

Mentzer enlisted APTA members to help FAAC organize its initial Industry Advisory Group (IAG), which effectively became a steering committee to help guide and direct the on-going improvement of the MB-2000. Based on its recommendations FAAC made ensuing changes to combat the most prevalent safety concerns and promote the best training practices. It added such items as Ped Pilot, a joystick function that enables an instructor to control the initial placement and subsequent movement and behaviors of a virtual pedestrian; the DT-1000 Multi-Purpose Desktop, which allows the instructor to manipulate an observation deck to show any desired orientation of the trainee vehicle and also operate another vehicle to interact directly with students; and convex mirrors. From its further involvement with the IAG and the transit industry it added a host of instructor-initiated events, equipment malfunctions and other transit-specific features.

FAAC has since replaced the IAG with input from the growing customer base and on-line presence, its in-house subject matter and training specialists, as well as its annual user conference.

Mentzer says today the MB-2000 simulator is in service at respected bus properties across North America as well as London Bus in the UK.
Rochester-Genesee RTA trains remedially
Rochester-Genesee RTA, Rochester, NY, implemented the FAAC simulator to address post-incident training, an area of emphasis in the agency.

Veteran drivers charged with an incident received remedial training for one year in two groups: one on the simulator, the other by traditional classroom-based methods. The results showed a 5 percent accident rate from post-incident training for the simulator–trained operators compared to the 39 percent accident rate of non-simulator trained operators.

Paducah Area Transit System hits the road
The Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) operates a mobile training classroom outfitted in an elaborate semi rig to deliver instruction directly to the doorsteps of rural transit properties and school districts throughout the state.
The mobile classroom is equipped with six kiosks, a cutaway van simulator, a municipal bus simulator and a transit police simulator.

Since simulator training began in 2006 the total number of accidents dropped 44 percent from FY 2006 to 2007. PATS reported the training reduced preventable accidents by 64 percent.

“Our transit customers use our simulators to promote basic skill development and teach the driving formulas that are core to a safe and efficient bus operation,” says Mentzer. “They also use our simulators to conduct return to work refreshers, annual certification training, CDL exam training and effective corrective action lessons to operators involved in collisions with fixed objects, pedestrians or other vehicles.”

Flexible enough for all
As a flexible training solution for multi-modal agencies, FAAC can customize its products for a variety of transit vehicles with various power sources —standard diesel, hybrid, electric, CNG and propane. The simulator can accommodate training on cutaway body on chassis paratransit vehicles with functional wheel chair lifts, as well as shuttles and electric trolleys that draw power from overhead wires.

FAAC users report reductions of preventable accidents by as much as 64 percent.  In addition, the training has significantly reduced critical risk exposures that often result in personal injury claims, such as accidents involving bicyclists.

The Scenario ToolBoxTM Script Authoring Software can be used to develop custom, repeatable training lessons with specific maneuvers instructors can define to accomplish specific learning objectives.

“We believe a focused approach toward application of the simulator is the best return on investment for prospective agencies,” says Mentzer. “We maintain a staff of in-house experts and support personnel an agency can rely as members of their training and risk management teams.” BR

Simulator preliminaries to consider

Simulators should be used as a supplemental tool to reinforce an existing operator training curriculum.
Simulators enable trainees to practice difficult maneuvers in the safety of the classroom.
Simulators are not meant to replace seat time on an actual bus or coach, but their proper use can reduce fuel and related training costs.
Simulators offer the opportunity to reinforce specific learning objectives with practical lessons that mimic actual driving maneuvers.
Student drivers are allowed to make mistakes in the virtual environment as part of the learning process.
Simulators can present scripted or randomly occurring traffic conditions.

Operated under contract by First Transit, NJ Transit’s Access Link program offers transportation options for customers who need specialized assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), with 375 vehicles providing curb-to-curb service within three-fourths of a mile of NJ Transit fixed-route service.

First Transit began its partnership with NJ Transit in 1996 and currently provides transportation across five operating regions, utilizing seven facilities — spanning 18 of 21 counties in the state of New Jersey. Access Link allows passengers to transfer within the system to continue their journey. In fact, an Access Link Paratransit customer is able to travel across the state — and even into Philadelphia — without changing systems.

With nearly one million trips annually, spanning approximately 10.7 million miles, accurate service control and precision coordination of each schedule are essential to providing safe, reliable transportation. Each of the five regions provides paratransit service nearly around-the-clock. In fact, Region 3 — Atlantic City — operates its service 24 hours a day.

When a customer calls to schedule a trip, the Access Link’s operations center makes the initial reservation. From there, the First Transit scheduling staff will coordinate resources and employees to ensure the trip is on-time and properly routed.

Access Link’s operations center employs service monitors who are specifically trained to meet customer needs by asking the right questions and ensuring they receive the best service possible. First Transit service controllers are responsible for constant communication with the service monitor staff throughout the day, updating them on schedule changes, traffic delays, safety concerns and on-the-road incidents. Together, we work to provide seamless, consistent, worry-free service for customers. Our motto, One Team, One Service, is a mantra we live by everyday.

It is critical that all departments work together to ensure continuity of service. However, our drivers and dispatchers are the faces and voices of our business every day and their consistency of service is essential.

Proper training is key at First Transit. In fact, all drivers undergo nearly 120 hours of classroom and behind-the-wheel training prior to transporting any passengers.

Safety and maintenance teams work hard to support our frontline staff. The

NJ Transit staff performs random vehicle inspections twice per year. To supplement these inspections, First Transit employs a district maintenance manager to conduct monthly vehicle and facility inspections. This two-tiered system creates not only accountability but allows our maintenance staff to learn from best practices.

In keeping with our commitment to service productivity, we recently developed InfoManager software, which provides a robust platform of reports and information, increasing efficiency and productivity for the location. In-house software engineers developed this new technology initially rolled out at a sister First Transit facility. We look forward to evaluating the information generated and working to roll it out to all of our Access Link regions.

The rollout of InfoManager is to complement and support Access Link’s successful productivity incentive program. The goal of this program is to increase productivity and ensure on-time performance. The result has been significant savings to NJ Transit while maintaining 95 percent to 97 percent on-time performance statewide.

We take great pride in having a solid working relationship with our client, which is essential to ensuring high satisfaction for our customers. By working together to achieve our goal of One Team, One Service, we have saved the client money while maintaining a high quality of service for more than 15 years.

From his base in Sayreville, NJ, Paul O’Brien serves as First Transit District Manager for seven paratransit and fixed-route contracts comprising nine facilities in New Jersey. His region serves as the sole provider of ADA paratransit to NJ Transit.

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