Regional Transit Info in the Works for SunGuide

    MIAMI--April 1, 2002--Less than a year old, South Florida's SunGuide Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) is gearing up to add transit to its information menu available by telephone or on the web.
    Transit agencies comprising South Florida's Regional Transportation Organization (RTO) recently approved a Joint Participation Agreement (JPA) pledging cooperation to create a regional transit database for use in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. FDOT and the RTO will supplement the SunGuide contract to create and maintain the regional transit database.
    "The SunGuide program provides real-time traveler information on highways in the tri-county area," said FDOT's Jesus Martinez. "The transit piece we are adding will give us highway and transit data in the same center," he added.
    Once implemented by early 2003, the transit Consumer Information Network (CIN) will provide a common database for transit operations in South Florida. "This means that transit users will be able to get information on routes and assistance in trip planning for transit agencies throughout South Florida by making one call or accessing one website," said Miami-Dade Transit Agency spokesperson Ruby Adams, who heads up the RTO effort. "Currently, transit users have to contact each transit agency independently for information. Under the RTO program, regional transit information will be housed in a central database and used by all the transit agencies," she said.
    Miami-Dade Transit, Broward County Transit, PalmTran and Tri-Rail are participating in the Consumer Information Network.
    SunGuide provides free real-time traveler information by telephone and on the Internet. Callers can dial (305) 914-3838 in Miami Dade or toll-free at (866) 914-3838 in Broward or Palm Beach counties. Later this year, the service will switch over to 511, the national traveler information number assigned by the Federal Communications Commission.
    "511 will become the national source for traveler information. With transit being added to our system, 511 will become a one-stop call for the most up-to-the-minute information for travelers whether they are driving or using public transit," said Martinez. Web users can reach the service at http://www.smartraveler.com.
    The traveler information services are part of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) deployment in the U.S., designed to combat growing congestion in urban areas.
    Sponsored by FDOT, MDX, Florida Highway Patrol and transit agencies and local governments in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, SunGuide is a cooperative effort with SmartRoute Systems of Cambridge, MA, to offer travel options to motorists.
    The telephone and Internet services retrieve up-to-the-minute traffic data from the SunGuide/SmarTraveler Information Center in North Miami-Dade, where information on traffic conditions is gathered and disseminated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
    The SmarTraveler service uses cameras, traffic sensor information, scanners and aerial surveillance to monitor traffic conditions in the tri-county area.
    "It's an exciting new service. We are already getting significant numbers of people calling into the telephone service and hitting the website, " said Florida DOT's David Rosemond.
    Launched in May of 2001, the SmarTraveler service now receives more than 12,000 phone calls and 20,000 web hits per month.
    "People want options when they commute. When a commuter can get information that is current and specific to the route they are planning on using, they can make choices. They can become smart travelers," said Chris Leonard, SmartRoute's South Florida site manager.