| Rather than having a dedicated fleet for “demand response” trips doing “door-to-door” transports, flex-route bus schedules
are modified to have them “deviate” (go off-route) from their default route to pick up or drop off the passenger. Flex-routes
are defined by a combination of fixed bus stops and time points but the path of travel between bus stops can vary and
cushion time is built in between time points to allow vehicles to flex and remain within an acceptable on-time window.
GreyHawk utilizes the Trapeze Software Group’s FLEX Scheduling and Dispatching System. Rider’s call in their reservations
and the Trapeze FLEX system calculates which route will deviate (go off-route) from their route to pick up or drop off these
passengers. When these “deviated routes” are finalized for the next day’s runs they will be transmitted to Mobile Data
Terminals (MDT's) in the vehicles. |
Deviated (Flex) Route Bus Systems
FLEX Route System Overview |
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Each vehicle has a Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) System consisting of a touch screen PC, GPS, and radio data When operators log on, their route for the shift is transmitted (downloaded) from the dispatching system to the vehicle MDT where it is displayed on the screen. As the operator arrives at each trip’s destination and completes the stop, transactions of these events are transmitted to dispatch. Messages can also be transmitted to and from the vehicles. GPS (Global Positioning System) latitude and longitude coordinates are transmitted from the vehicle and can be plotted on a map at dispatch to show exactly where each vehicle is located. The MDT system transmits data only but the existing voice communications network has been maintained if the operators need to actually talk to the dispatcher. |
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