Evaluation of the Advanced Operating System of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority : driver dispatcher perceptions of AATA's Advanced Operating System

Transferred from EDL on 5/14/2008; Personal author data from submitter of documentPDFResearch PaperAdvanced public transportation systemsFleet managementBus transportationBus driversDispatchersCustomer satisfactionSurveysEvaluation and assessmentMichiganAnn Arbor Transportation Authority (Mich.)Levine, JonathanAnn Arbor Transportation AuthorityNTL-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-Advanced Public Transit SystemsNTL-INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS-Transit ManagementNTL-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-Transit Planning and PolicyNTL-PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION-Bus TransportationNTL-PLANNING AND POLICY-SurveysIntelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program OfficeThis report details results of focus groups and written surveys conducted with AATA motor coach operators. The drivers' early verdict on AOS is favorable overall; limitations incommunication are generally unwelcome, but other services such as automated announcement and sign changing are enthusiastically accepted. Newer drivers were consistently more favorably inclined towards AOS than their more veteran colleagues. But regardless of an individual\ue2\u20ac\u2122s enthusiasm or skepticism there seems to be a general acceptance that technologies like AOS are unavoidable in the transit industry.In general, automation can be seen in two divergent ways, sometimes by the same individual. Automation can relieve the tedium of unwanted tasks (such as calling out stop names), and in this way free up the individual to concentrate on doing his or her job better. In contrast, automation can be seen as regimenting and eliminating driver\ue2\u20ac\u2122s opportunities for delivering service in a creative fashion. The desire to be creative on the job \ue2\u20ac\u201c whether through personal interaction with customers, innovative and ad hoc transfers, or monitoring conditions that affect one\ue2\u20ac\u2122s ability to drive the bus \ue2\u20ac\u201c was pervasive among drivers of all levels of experience. The drivers\ue2\u20ac\u2122 verdict on AOS ultimately depends on their perception of its effect on their on-the-job control and creativity