Using Technology to Enhance Safety Joe Calabrese CEO/General Manager
Greater Cleveland RTA - Overview Service Area Population of 1.5 million Customers Served 200,000 on a typical weekday 1.6 million annual departures Budget $350 million annually (2014) 2,500 Employees
RTA - Multi-Modal System Services Modes 500 Buses 60 Heavy Rail Vehicles 24 RTV s - (HealthLine BRT) 48 Light Rail Vehicles 100 Paratransit
RTA Fleet
Red Line - Heavy Rail
Waterfront Line - Light Rail
Bus Rapid Transit - BRT
Safety, Safety, Safety
Safety, Safety, Safety Set Annual Goals Track Performance Give Recognition Pay Modest Incentives: Preventable Vehicle Accidents Total Vehicle Accidents Industrial Accidents Best Safety Stats by District Most Improved District
Safety - Preventables
Safety-OJI s
TEAM RESULTS Performance Measure September 2010 YTD Target Payout Safety-Preventables.94.88.93 or below $10.00 Safety OJI s 14.7 12.0 12.0 or less injuries per 200,000 hours $10.00 No. of Miles between Service Interruptions 5,709 6,700 8,000 or above $10.00 On-Time Performance* 74% 75% 80% or above $10.00 Ridership 3,944,841 33,470,699 50,792,020 $10.00 Ride Happy or Ride Free 1 request for every 22,542 riders 1 request for every 21,304 riders 1 request for every 25,000 riders $10.00 Attendance 7.2% 6.9% 4.5% or below $40.00 Revenue $7,292,455 $36,650,129 $52,811,200 year end target $100.00 one time year-end payout * On-Time Performance in August began using data from TransitMaster. If YTD figure meets or exceeds target, the row is highlighted indicating we are in the payout range.
Safety, Safety, Safety Programs that give recognition for safety: Annual Safety Awards Continuous years of safe driving Monthly Champions of Safety RTA has multi-layered Safety Committees District Labor-Management Safety Committees Executive Safety Committee
Annual Awards & Recognition Banquet Professional Operator s Safe Operation Award
Champions of Safety
Cleveland Indians First Pitch Godwin McNeal - 35 years Safe Operation (no accidents)
Hierarchy of Controls Eliminate Hazard/Risk Soft Fixes Education Training Through Procedures Hard Fixes Engineering Controls
Safety Initiatives 1. Work-Zone Safety Rail Division Warn rail workers of on-coming train Alert rail operator of rail workers ahead 2. Pedestrian Safety Remind Operators to be safe. Encourages Pedestrians to be alert.
Rail Work - Zone Safety
Microwave Alert System
Portable Train Detector
Wheel Flange Detection (UltraSound)
Audible/Vibrating Arm Bands Worn to Supplement Light/Horn Warning Device
Portable Light/Horn Warning Device
Sound Sample
Pedestrian Safety Bus hits pedestrian. Everybody loses
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Mitigating Pedestrian Collisions Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
Accident Avoidance Soft Fixes Training Assure good visibility Mirrors Visors Recognition Programs Service Plan to minimize turns Discipline
Awareness
Training Focused on Inattention Blindness Importance of waiting 2 seconds before making turns Rock and Roll technique Thorough scanning technique
Accident Avoidance Engineering Solutions - that minimize the Human Factor Reminds operators to be aware of Pedestrians when turning Alerts pedestrians that a bus is turning
Pedestrian Safety This shouldn t be Rocket Science
Pedestrian Alert System - Version #1 Procedural Fix Blow Horn when turning Effective Got everyone s attention Unanticipated consequence I received a lot of complaints Operator compliance about 60% Stop-Gap system
Pedestrian Alert System Version #2 Semi-Engineering fix Hooked up turn-signals to back-up alarm Effective Frightened the pedestrians Unanticipated consequence I received a lot of complaints Drivers stopped using turn-signals Stop-Gap Upgraded turn-signals to strobes
Engineering Solution Version #3 System was automatically activated when the bus would make a left or right turn: 1. Broadcast an audible alert from both exterior speakers 2. Broadcast an audible alert from an interior speaker behind Operator 3. Speaker volume automatically attenuates based on ambient noise measured by a microphone
GCRTA s Safe Turn Alert System
Operator Speaker
How Does It Work? The system uses GPS to calibrate at start-up The turning angle for triggering announcements can be adjusted by the transit agency When the turning angle is realized, an audible exterior announcement and optional visual indication is made in the direction of the turn In addition, audible alerts can be activated to remind operators to check for pedestrians GPS Speakers IVN or STWS Steering Column Encoder
Clever Devices TurnWarning Systems Two versions of the TurnWarning System Standalone TurnWarning System (STWS) for customers without IVN-based fleets IVN TurnWarning for Clever Devices IVN3 or IVN4 customers STWS Independent audio system Dedicated GPS receiver Multiple language support Browser management IVN TurnWarning Utilizes IVN audio and GPS Multiple language support Management via BusTools
Operation 12:00 Left-Hand Turn Right-Hand Turn 12:00 12:00 8:00 Steering Wheel Straight For Left-Hand turns, the message trigger point is approximately 8 o clock 5:00 For Right-Hand turns, the message trigger point is approximately 5 o clock NOTE: Setting the trigger points at these positions initiates the message broadcast before the bus enters a cross-walk during a normal turn and prevents the message broadcast during a normal lane change.
Operator Speaker When the steering wheel is turned, the Pitman Arm will rotate (as indicated) The proximity sensor will send a signal to the ECU as the Pitman Arm rotates past it The ECU will immediately broadcast the message If system fails, the operators will sound the horn before every turn Pitman Arm
NUMBER OF COLLISIONS BUS COLLISIONS WITH PEDESTRIANS 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Turning Right 3 0 4 0 2 0 0 1 0 Turning Left 4 4 4 6 3 0 1 0 0
APTA Gold Safety Awards
Questions?