Assessment of the Seattle Smart Traveler

Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office1999PDFTech ReportTurnbull, Katherine F.United States. Federal Highway AdministrationJohn A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)United States. Department of Transportation. Federal Transit AdministrationSeattle (Washington)RidesharingAdvanced traveler information systemsElectronic mailAdvanced public transportation systems or APTSEvaluation/program assessmentMobilityRegional multimodal travel informationRidematchingCarpoolingFTA-TRI-11-99-30The system was designed using a World Wide Web or Internet interface. Two of the unique features of the design were accommodating the desired travel times and identifying origins and destinations. A search structure was developed using a series of pull-down menus allowing users to easily identify their origins and destinations from a search tree containing four levels of detail. Making the actual connection with potential rideshare partners was left up the participants. An automatic e-mail notification feature enhanced the ease of communicating with possible rideshare partners. Implementation and operation of the Seattle Smart Traveler occurred over a 15-month period ending in June 1997. Use of the dynamic ridematching system was tracked by University researchers over the period of the demonstration.97