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Form Revised: September 1999

TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION

TO Commissioners

FROM Richard C. Ducharme

MEETING DATE May 17, 2006

SUBJECT Staff Response to Commission Inquiry - Internet Trip Planning Directives

At its meeting on March 22, 2006, the Commission moved that staff report back on Google / Trip Planning directives. This memo outlines the TTC’s previous and current work plans and activities regarding Trip Planning and related technologies, in response to the Commission’s request.

BACKGROUND

The TTC’s web site provides schedules for approximately 2,800 surface stops. Customers download and print these schedules for their personal use. In 2005, there were 8.5 million visits to the TTC web site, approximately half of which included a visit to the ‘TTC Schedules’ directory. However, the web site currently does not have trip planning capability and customers are therefore unable to plan a trip that includes routes, timing points, walking time, etc., without contacting a TTC Telephone Information Operator. Operator assistance is only available daily between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The schedules for the web site are derived from a Communications and Information System (CIS) based ‘Interim Time Line Information Database’ which was developed in-house in late 1999 as part of the Y2K initiative.  Given the situation it did not have the benefit of a thorough business and systems design effort, and was never envisioned as a long-term solution to the business needs.  As such, the existing database does not support business applications (and transit industry standards) such as web-based trip planning or voice recognition.

In January 2004 the TTC’s IT Services and Marketing Departments began work on an approved project to implement a Schedule and Trip Planning application, with an approved budget of $1,000,000. A Trip Planning application would provide TTC customers with a source for 24 / 7 trip-planning. Further, there would be a potential for reduced call volume into our Telephone Information Centre during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.). This type of application would also allow the TTC to attain the minimum standard of transit trip planning already in place in most major markets, including Montreal, Vancouver, Washington, Philadelphia and Chicago. Finally, in terms of security, it is an excellent resource for customers, particularly females, to minimize their transit waiting time when travelling at night.

In September 2004, during the 2005 TTC budget approval process, project feasibility reviews showed significant difficulty in integrating trip planning with the existing TTC scheduling system, resulting in increased cost projections totalling $2 million. As such, the project was cancelled at this time. This would allow time for the industry to advance in trip planning technologies, which could facilitate the integration requirements.

In the last few years the Commission has embarked upon a number of initiatives that involve current and emerging Geographic Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies. As a result, several initiatives have taken place bringing us to the point where there is a need to review these technologies with a view to achieving a consistent approach. This is to be done recognizing that GIS and GPS technologies have evolved significantly over the past few years. There is a need to standardize these technologies and their application, acquisition and rollout in order to address various TTC needs and opportunities. A number of areas are moving forward with various projects that are using these technologies and a plan is required to determine core infrastructure requirements. In addition, TTC staff are currently involved with the City of Toronto’s Land Based Working Group, whose mandate is to review existing inventories of GIS / GPS systems and technologies and to develop a best practices approach to acquiring and implementing these technologies.

At the March 22, 2006 Commission meeting, the following eight directives regarding the Google Transit Proposal were issued to TTC Senior Management to be reported on:

1. Commission to accept Web based trip planning in principle as a direction they would like to explore.

2. Staff to prepare a report on costs / what’s needed.

3. A detailed project plan to be developed based upon direction from the Commission after review of price / what’s needed.

4. Compile a list of what other properties have trip planning packages - what it is…how it’s working.

5. Staff to consider what would be required to provide Google with the information they requested for the Google Transit initiative.

6. CGM to contact the other GTA properties and advise the TTC will be looking at moving in this direction.

7. Review with the City what they have that could assist in this regard e.g. 311 / 511 initiatives.

8. Staff to review / explore any revenue generating opportunities through this initiative.

Due to the variety of potential GPS / GIS applications, TTC staff have issued a Request For Proposal to conduct a Geospatial review in order to address the various requirements for GPS / GIS technologies. The review will include an investigation and evaluation of Geospatial technologies, including technologies required to support a trip planning application for the TTC. The review will also make recommendations for a plan that will allow TTC to make use of these technologies and the opportunities that they present in conjunction with best practices in the field consistent with the TTC Information Technology Services strategic plan. The TTC e-Systems Sub-Committee has been apprised of this plan and requested that the external individual / group selected for this review meet with the sub-committee members for input and advice on the way forward.

DISCUSSION

Upon completion of the Geospatial Review, staff will report back to the Commission and provide the frame work by which the TTC can move forward on the various GIS / GPS initiatives.

Further, with this core information, staff will also be in a position to respond to the additional motions raised by Commissioner Giambrone at the March 22, 2006 Commission meeting.

Staff anticipate the review and subsequent report will be available for the September 20, 2006 Commission meeting.

Chief General Manager

14.46.46