Cost

Software development was the key cost driver for the bus arrival and departure information system deployed as part of the Seattle Metropolitan Model Deployment Initiative.

From the Seattle MMDI Evaluation Report: Section 3.2.5 King County "Transit Watch" Evaluation

30 May 2000
Seattle,Washington,United States

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Summary Information

Transit riders at Bellevue and Northgate Transit Centers in King County, Washington were provided with bus arrival/departure times, bay number, and expected actual departure times for all bus routes using each of the transfer centers. The Transit Watch system obtained actual departure times from an Automated Vehicle Location (AVL) system, and then presented the information on video monitors at each center.

The cost of the system was approximately $723,000 and annual O&M was approximately $180,000. The most significant costs were the development and labor costs. Approximately 12% of the capital cost and 25% of the O&M cost were shared with other Seattle Smart Trek Model Deployment Initiative (MMDI) projects.

The following data was presented in the report.


Equipment Description
Capital
O&M
King County - Hardware (2 PCs, 5 monitors, modems, routers)
$39,500
 
King County - Facilities Improvements
$6,400
 
King County - Boeing Transit Watch
$20,000
 
King County - Engineering & Management Support
$3,300
 
King County - Software Development Support
$5,000
 
King County - Design Consultant
$43,000
 
King County - Other Labor
$28,000
 
University of Washington - Total Equipment Purchases (Proposed Budget)
$25,000
 
University of Washington - Total Supplies & Materials (Proposed Budget)
$19,900
 
University of Washington - Development Labor
$447,475
 
King County - Maintenance
 
$4,100
Operations Labor (1 University of Washington FTE)
 
$131,250
14% of ITS Backbone - Share of 3 Pentium Workstations & Associated Equip.
$3,393
 
14% of ITS Backbone - Share of Labor (including indirect costs and benefits)
$78,324
 
14% of ITS Backbone - Share of Other Direct Costs
$3,585
 
14% of ITS Backbone - Share of Hardware & Supplies (replaced every 2 years)
 
$1,696
14% of ITS Backbone - Share of Fiber Link & Other Contractual Services
 
$2,428
14% of ITS Backbone - Share of Operations Labor (3 University of Wash. FTEs)
 
$40,178
TOTAL
$722,877
$179,652

The cost estimate included 14% of the ITS Information backbone costs since the system was designed to interface or exchange information with the ITS Backbone.


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Source

Seattle Metropolitan Model Deployment Evaluation Report

Author: Jensen, M., et al. (SAIC, Battelle, Mitretek, and Volpe)

Published By: Federal Highway Administration, U.S. DOT

Prepared by SAIC for the U.S. DOT

Source Date: 30 May 2000

EDL Number: 13071

Other Reference Number: Report No. FHWA-OP-00-019

URL: http://ntl.bts.gov/lib/jpodocs/repts_te/13071.pdf

System Cost

Capital cost: $722,877 (1998).

Annual O&M cost: $179,652 (1998).

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Costs From This Source

An advanced parking information system was deployed as part of the Seattle Metropolitan Model Deployment Initiative for $925,000; maintenance costs of the system hardware were estimated at 7% of the hardware capital costs.

Bus tracking capability was added to the Metro Online Web site as part of the Seattle Metropolitan Model Deployment Initiative at a cost of $333,000.

Nineteen metropolitan North Seattle, Washington city signal systems were integrated at a cost of $1,755,000.

Software development was the key cost driver for the bus arrival and departure information system deployed as part of the Seattle Metropolitan Model Deployment Initiative.

The total capital cost of the Seattle MMDI emergency operations centers project including equipment and planning/development costs were $151,700; O&M costs were approximately 5% of the equipment costs.

Benefits From This Source

A model determined that incorporating arterial traffic flow data into the traveler information system in Seattle, Washington could decrease the number of stops by 5.6 percent.

A model found that coordinating fixed signal timing plans along congested arterial corridors leading into Seattle, Washington would help reduce the number of expected crashes by 2.5 percent and the frequency of fatal crashes by 1.1 percent.

Modeling indicated that coordinating fixed signal timing plans along congested arterial corridors leading into Seattle, Washington, and incorporating arterial traffic flow data into the traveler information system would reduce vehicle delay by 7 percent and 1.8 percent, respectively.

Simulation results indicated that vehicle emissions could be reduced by two percent if arterial traffic flow data were included in the traveler information system in Seattle, Washington.

Users of the Advanced Traveler Information System in Seattle, Washington were satisfied with the information on freeway and transit conditions provided via Web sites and a Traffic TV service.

Lessons From This Source

Develop long-range plans to ensure the success and continuity of advanced traveler information systems.

Involve the private sector in the implementation of multiple advanced traveler information technologies.

Use an appropriate procurement mechanism to support the implementation of multiple advanced traveler information technologies.

Cost ID: 2003-00025