Experiences of Demand Responsive Transport System (DRTS) in Keski-Uusimaa/Finland

1. Experiences of Demand Responsive Transport System (DRTS) in Keski-Uusimaa/Finland

2. Basis of Keski-Uusimaa DRTS • service is available even for one customer’s request • traffic dispatch centre (TDC) tries to put several passengers one vehicle • service is part of the scheduled PT

3. DRTS basis in Keski-Uusimaa • Passengers can choose free: • their place of departure and destination in the operation area • time of the departure during the operation time • If scheduled PT is available, passenger has to use it • Dispatcher tries to combine the trips and agrees the suitable departure time with the passenger

4. Operational criteria in Keski-Uusimaa Authorities decide the regulation of the system: • The trip must be booked at least 3 hours in advance before the wanted departure time • For handicapped persons the pre booking time is 2 hours • Dispatcher can change the departure time +/- 35 minutes • TDC is open • Mo – Fri. 6.00 – 20.00 • Sa 8.00 – 16.00 • Trips can be made: • Mo – Fri 5.30 – 22.00 • Sa 8.00 – 18.00 • Passenger pays in the vehicle • Price is lower than taxi price and higher than bus ticket

5. DRTS concept in Keski-Uusimaa area Taxi • TDC: • Optimization • Combination • Choice of vehicles: • The nearest suitable Transport operation Booking: phone, SMS, email Minibus Customer

6. Operations made in Keski-Uusimaa/Nurmijärvi • Cut down routes which have only few passengers and focus to main routes • Today we need 34 buses for bus lines • Before we had 48 buses for bus lines • From areas which are out of scheduled bus services, is dogging system to buses with DRTS • Results • Better service to passengers • Better economy to bus lines • Municipalities save money, when it is paying only the trips which are needed

7. Bus lines today – bus lines before

8. Advantages to the passengers in the DRTS • people can make their trips, when it is suitable for them, not only when the bus or train is scheduled to go by • equal public transport services for all citizens • the level of public transport service is better compared to the traditional scheduled bus and train system

9. Advantages for the municipalities and authorities • DRTS brings the equality of PT to all citizens • DRTS gives better service for less money in PT than today especially in rural areas • Cut down of special transport costs (for disabled and elderly) • Cut down of administrative work • Diminished cheating of social money

10. Advantages when TDC responsible for all operations • Authorities have only one partner, who has the responsibility of all operations -> easy to tender -> easy to negotiate for the authorities • Forces to more and more economic operation -> cheaper price to the authorities • Quality can easily be controlled and is good

11. Demands for the TDC • Cost-effective operation in the TDC • All information should be given to the passenger during the first call • The call should be as short as possible • Digital map is optional • Easy and reliable connection between TDC and vehicles • Software is flexible

12. Demands for the Software • Easy to operate for the dispatchers • The dispatchers should be involved in developing • Concept and software must be developed all the time • Software must allow the concept development. Easy to modify for different kinds of operations. 4. Can be used to different kinds of transportation (and other) operations. 5. Can handle fast a lot of passengers if needed