New partnership focuses on improving efficiencies for paratransit operations; Extends RouteMatch’s regional coordination effort in Denver Metro Area

 DENVER, CO and ATLANTA, GA—January 30, 2012 — RouteMatch Software, Inc. today announced that it has been awarded an intelligent transportation systems (ITS) contract with Denver-based Seniors’ Resource Center (SRC) Transportation Services to improve operational efficiencies for the transit agency’s demand-response services.

SRC is a non-profit, modified demand response brokerage operating 18 small buses and vehicles as well as subcontractors for door-to-door transportation to seniors and persons with mobility impairments within the west and north Denver metropolitan area, including suburbs and a few outlying rural, mountainous areas. By using RouteMatch’s flexible transportation and vehicle management platform, SRC seeks to improve the number of passengers traveling within vehicles as well as conduct more efficient route planning and scheduling.

“We were ready for change and chose RouteMatch for quite a few reasons,” said Hank Braaksma, Transportation Director at Seniors’ Resource Center Transportation Services. “As a company, we like RouteMatch’s strong local presence here in Denver, paratransit work with Denver RTD, and civic involvement within the Colorado community. We also view RouteMatch’s technologies as becoming the primary transit solution for the entire Denver metro area. As a non-profit transit agency, we’re always looking for ways to be cost-effective with the funds we receive while getting good value for functionality and maintenance. We see RouteMatch as a long-term partner who grasps our needs.”

RouteMatch applies advanced algorithms and proven, best practice implementations to help transit agency directors, dispatchers and drivers manage time and resources through optimization. The software will enable SRC to glean pertinent information for improved coordination with its six different paratransit providers across a 750 square mile area of coverage.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Seniors’ Resource Center Transportation Services, and working with the team there to uncover hidden or overlooked opportunities for achieving greater transportation ROI,” saidTom Coogan, General Manager and Vice President, RouteMatch Software, West Region. “SRC has been a visionary leader in both community care and the transit industry, and we are thrilled to be on board in helping achieve their mission.”

SRC’s future technology plans include tapping into RouteMatch’s technologies to facilitate a one-click, one-call center model for regional coordination, using a real-time traveler information system to enhance customer service, and in-vehicle tracking and monitoring for greater cost savings, a lower carbon foot print, and safety.

About RouteMatch Software

RouteMatch is the leading provider of end-to-end transit ITS software and innovative passenger and vehicle technology solutions. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and works with more than 450 transit agencies across the U.S. and internationally, providing quality software and customer service. Partnering with public and private sector passenger transportation providers, the company’s products address routing, scheduling, dispatching, billing, reporting, fixed route , paratransit and fixed route integration, traveler information services, fleet management, mobility management, and more.  Additional information about RouteMatch’s ITS technologies are available at www.routematch.com or by calling RouteMatch toll-free at (US) 1-888-840-8791.

About Seniors’ Resource Center Transportation Services

Seniors’ Resource Center Transportation Services provide accessible and affordable door to door and door-through-door transportation to older adults and persons with mobility impairments in the urban areas of Adams and Jefferson counties. Riders can travel with us to medical/dental appointments, grocery shopping, meal sites, community-based care programs and personal trips.

SRC uses small buses, sedans and many small service providers and their vehicles to maximize funding, create coordination and provide extended hours and boundaries. Safety and service quality is our goal. Seniors’ Resource Center Transportation ensures individual independence, provides mobility for self-sufficiency and the opportunity to participate fully in the life of the community.

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 State Standardizes on ITS & Cloud Services Technologies to Improve Coordination & Customer Service

ATLANTA, GA and LINCOLN, NE-  January 25, 2012- RouteMatch Software, a leading provider in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), was selected by Nebraska Department of Roads (NDOR) to become the state’s primary ITS partner, providing a standardized and integrated passenger transportation management technology platform for 13 Nebraska rural public and tribal transit agencies. The technologies address NDOR’s primary goals of improving mobility management and creating seamless, consistent transit coordination amongst these agencies.   The RouteMatch partnership will also allow NDOR to closely facilitate paratransit services with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and other non-emergency medical providers.

Comprised of Nebraskan transit agencies located as far east as Norfolk to as far west as North Platte – a span of 252 miles – RouteMatch and NDOR’s statewide initiative will help synergize operational efforts amongst the state’s widely dispersed transit programs, many which are doubly challenged with having only one to three vehicles at their disposal and only one administrator onsite.  With RouteMatch’s integrated technologies and easy- to- use reporting functionality, the transit agencies will be able to more efficiently optimize their existing resources and provide a more reliable transit experience for regional customers. The transit agencies will also be able to simplify their coordination efforts through automated scheduling and dispatching of vehicles, improved tracking of services, and overall improved public transportation planning and reporting.

RouteMatch’s Cloud Services works particularly well for states with multiple agencies seeking regional or statewide coordination. By deploying RouteMatch’s technologies in a Cloud environment, the 13 agencies can easily access and input their data from one centralized database over the Internet for more convenient installations, upgrades, and maintenance.  NDOR can also minimize hardware requirements and costs as well as the need for additional on-site information technology staff.

“The Nebraska Department of Roads looks forward to working with RouteMatch to help rural public and tribal transportation programs become more efficient in providing transportation services to the citizens of Nebraska,” said Jerry Wray, NDOR’s Transit Liaison Manager.  “We were impressed with RouteMatch’s deep experience with rural transit agencies and other statewide Departments of Transportation. We also liked RouteMatch’s Cloud Services approach which will allow us to quickly share information and scale to accommodate other transit providers and changes in ridership demand. Such technologies will help our transit riders experience a more consistent, quality level of service, no matter which agency they decide to use.”

To further improve NDOR’s transit systems, RouteMatch combined software with in-vehicle mobile data devices, giving drivers in-vehicle wireless access to up-to-date trip information in real-time.  The communication devices increase on-time performance while saving both time and paper on tedious data entry tasks.

“We are excited to be collaborating with the State of Nebraska in helping them achieve their mobility management goals.   Because many rural states are geographically spread out, it can be challenging for its transit agencies to coordinate efforts and ensure all riders are being serviced as efficiently and as accurately as possible. Using integrated technology, agencies can work smarter, not harder so they can allocate resources to focus on what matters most – the customer.  The end result is increased ridership as well as improved safety and security,” said Tim Quinn, RouteMatch’s Co-founder and Executive Vice President.

In addition to Nebraska, RouteMatch has statewide ITS contracts with Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee. After the initial 13 transit agencies are fully integrated with RouteMatch’s technologies, the next phase of the initiative involves deploying the software to other Nebraskan transit agencies.

“The goal is to ensure we have seamless, dependable transit systems throughout the entire State of Nebraska and we know RouteMatch can help us get there,” commented Wray.

 About RouteMatch Software

RouteMatch is the leading provider of end-to-end transit ITS software and innovative passenger and vehicle technology solutions. Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA and works with more than 450 transit agencies across the U.S. and internationally, providing quality software and customer service. Partnering with public and private sector passenger transportation providers, the company’s products address routing, scheduling, dispatching, billing, reporting, fixed route CAD/AVL, paratransit and fixed route integration, traveler information services, fleet management, mobility management, and more.  Additional information about RouteMatch’s ITS technologies are available at www.routematch.com or by calling RouteMatch toll-free at (US) 1-888-840-8791.

Atlanta, GA and Toronto, Canada – December 20, 2011- RouteMatch Softwaretoday announced that Rob Bryans has joined the company as International Sales Director.  Rob brings deep experience in transit sales, account management, and operations to RouteMatch.

Rob Bryans Joins RouteMatch as International Sales Director

“We are thrilled to have Rob join us here at RouteMatch,” said Tim Quinn, Executive Vice- President and Co-founder, RouteMatch Software. “We have maintained a strong relationship with Rob for many years in different capacities.  Whether a competitor, a partner, or a friend, we have always found him refreshingly astute in both business know-how and technical knowledge. Rob is known for execution and uses a consultative approach to customer engagement.  The drive and deep fixed route expertise he brings are assets which will help us further expand beyond U.S. borders and penetrate untapped international markets.”

Rob most recently comes to RouteMatch from TranSched Systems where he served as Director or Sales and Marketing for the enterprise software firm. There, he profitably managed and sustained healthy sales pipelines by growing and managing strategic accounts by bringing new products to market and building strategic partnerships. He additionally launched a cloud-based Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform. Earlier in his career, Rob was a Key Account Manager at Trapeze Group, where he directly managed relationships with C-level executives of the company’s large, strategic accounts which primarily comprised of large urban transit systems. His knowledge of ITS technologies include trip planning, ITS technologies for fixed route and paratransit, and consumer facing applications.

“I have worked very closely with RouteMatch’s management team for several years and RouteMatch has proven to be an extremely well–managed and forward-thinking company,” said Rob Bryans. “I was impressed with the high level of focus on innovation and research and development, as well as the level of customer service that they have been able to maintain.  I can’t think of any other software company with over 450 customers that have been able to maintain a 99% retention rate. I am looking forward to continuing the momentum and growing RouteMatch’s international marketshare.”

Rob holds a Bachelor of Administrative and Commercial Studies from the University of Western Ontario with a specialization in finance and administration. Rob is based in Toronto, Canada.

 Foundation to ITS Success

Center for Community Building (CCB) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, extensively researched as many ITS applications as possible before investing in an intelligent transportation system.

With the assistance of an IT specialist from a local health center who had worked with multiple ITS systems in the past, CCB was able to avoid the headaches that could erupt if the software purchased was too rigid and lacked the ability to easily import and export information between different systems. The ability to scale was particularly critical given the center’s new customer growth rate and coordination plans the agency had underway.

With eight employees comprising of the CEO, mobility coordinator, three call center operators, two drivers, and one receptionist, CCB’s eligibility demographic coverage had expanded to manage the Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, as well as trips for Capital Area Transit inHarrisburg.  Three to four hundred trips were assigned to Capital Area Transit in Harrisburg each day.  CCB handled 500 calls a day and 200 new customers were added per month.

“We really needed flexible technology and chose RouteMatch due to the architecture and because it was so user friendly,” said William Peterson, CEO.  “Having one single database meant all information and updates could be done from one place.”

Data Management and Reporting Benefits Realized

Upon adopting RouteMatch technology, CCB quickly realized the benefits of having configurable technology.  RouteMatch’s customizable fields, designed through powerful algorithms and flexible parameter settings, allowed CCB to accommodate the center’s multiple rules and requirements.  Slicing and dicing information by category and creating meaningful reports became easier.

Trips also became better defined.  Extra configurability allowed CCB to assign trips based on previous addresses saved and seamlessly book more logistically complex “three legged trips” – where passengers needed to be picked up at different locations throughout the day. Timing of pick- ups could be more easily negotiated and the type and purpose of each trip could also be quickly defined.  CCB could now choose the mobility type for each customer.

By using RouteMatch’s technology, CCB was able to cut down the time spent on trip scheduling by 50%, without adding more overhead.

Said Vernae Patterson, Mobility Coordinator:  “These configurations and categorizations are beneficial as they help us with compliance and save us time.  Visibility into customer interaction and history also gives us an opportunity to explain information a little differently to our customers. We are now able to suitably match vehicles with the customer.”

RouteMatch’s technology has additionally allowed CCB to expand their business and serve customers seeking to travel to areas beyond the Dauphin County radius.  For example, CCB’s “Premium” trips are dedicated to Lancaster,York, and Philadelphia and subcontracted to a taxi cab company.  By using RouteMatch’s system, CCB has been able to centralize all touch points and cut back on time- consuming reconciliation.  Faxing and printing manifests have been replaced with more environmentally-friendly and more efficient automated scheduling, dispatching and emailing.  At the end of the month, reports can be easily generated for greater collaboration and centralized management.

“On the reporting side, RouteMatch’s assistance with MATP reporting has been a tremendous help.  It has saved us 20 hours a month as a team.”

Looking forward – Expanded Coordination 

By using RouteMatch Software’s technology platform, CCB has achieved an enterprise standard that it can build its inter-agency coordination efforts around.  CCB can more quickly adapt to growth and changes, and seeks to open up its RouteMatch system even more than it has done in the past, by enabling partner providers to access the technology and receive some of the same benefits CCB has gained.  Current coordination between three counties has spurred tighter exchange of information under a shared vision to improve ridership services.

“We’ve been really pleased with RouteMatch’s technology.  It gets the job done,” said William.  “Vernae has attended RouteMatch’s User Conference for the past three years, and her entire team has attended the personalized “In the Field” training events which happen in our backyard.  The technology and the approach have worked well for us here.  They are a true partner.”

Macon Transit improvements bringing more bus riders

By: Mike Stucka

As another Macon-Bibb County Transit Authority bus roared by, longtime rider David Scott said he could see why the bus service is getting more popular.

“I think they’re doing better,” Scott said. “It’s not going to happen overnight.”

In August, the Transit Authority recorded 84,201 rides, the highest monthly ridership in three years and up 47 percent from its lowest months last year. Macon Transit ended October with about 6,000 fewer rides than the August high.

General Manager Rick Jones said new equipment has probably doubled the system’s on-time reliability. That means more people can place their faith in the bus system, he said.

“On time has become the objective,” Jones said. “That wasn’t the case before.”

Asked what the system’s objective was before, Jones replied, “Just trying to make the routes. That’s all they could do.”

Old buses from an out-of-business manufacturer routinely broke down. When buses did make it through the routes, they were often lumbering along with broken air-conditioning systems or other problems.

About half of the bus fleet has been replaced, with more buses scheduled to arrive early next year. Most of them are a different kind of bus, called a cutaway, which looks like an overgrown church bus. They hold about as many passengers, cost far less and get several times the mileage, Jones said. The cutaway buses aren’t as durable as the traditional transit buses, and more of those buses are on order.

Jade Daniels, the agency’s administrative and operations manager, said more people are riding all of the Transit Authority’s routes.

“From what I can tell, all of our routes are starting to show some increases,” she said. “Some more than others, but all of them are increasing.”

Ridership dropped sharply after fare increases and service cuts took hold three years ago. Not all of that ground has been made up.

But the transit agency has been adding about 1,000 riders each month, which means perhaps late next year the agency will break the 100,000 rides-per-month mark. That figure hasn’t been seen since October 2007, federal statistics show. Jones expects more.

“We should be able to maintain, I think, a 20-percent increase per year in fixed route ridership for the foreseeable future,” he said.

Jones said on-time reliability is now around 85 percent. In recent years, that reliability wasn’t tracked accurately, but as few as 40 percent of buses might have arrived on time, he said.

Such improvements in service are key to getting more bus riders, Jones said.

“Are we completely where we need to be?” he asked. “Noooo.”

But if service continues to improve along with the agency’s finances, more routes could be added. A year ago the agency added a route between Macon and Robins Air Force Base. It went from just six people on the first day to about 3,800 rides in a single month.

Jones has his eye on a route that would roughly follow Second Street, tying jobs, housing and other attractions from Coliseum Medical Center to Mercer University. He’s also thinking about adding bus service to southern Bibb County. The agency is also considering expansion to other counties to become a truly regional system.

All that will depend on finances.

Jones said the agency’s finances have vastly improved, in part because the Transit Authority is no longer waiting to get federal transit money that gets channeled through the state. The agency got 18 months of grants for 12 months of service, and then repeated it. Debts that reached as much as $2 million — with loans to meet payroll — have been almost erased, Jones said. The agency now gets federal reimbursements almost immediately.

The bus system has also cut fuel costs by getting the new buses, which slurp fuel instead of guzzling it. The agency also cut its insurance rates in half, from $429,000 to $209,000. Drivers now get a 25-cent-per-hour bonus if they have records clear of preventable accidents in each quarter.

Irvin Washington, who has been riding Macon Transit buses for about a decade, reflected on the service from the agency’s new transfer station, a glassed-in, air-conditioned building in front of Terminal Station.

“It’s getting better,” he said of the agency’s reliability. “The older buses had some problems.”

Wake Awarded Federal Veterans Transportation Grant

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood joined Wake County leaders and other state and local officials on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at the A.A. Thompson Center in Raleigh, to announce a $601,000 federal grant that is expected to support the expansion of the Wake Coordinated Transportation Service (WCTS) call center.

Once accepted by the Wake County Board of Commissioners, the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative grant would allow the Center to provide customers with improved transportation information and referral services. The funds would also allow for improvements in regional connectivity with Wake County’s partner organizations.

“With this grant, we will be able to provide a more efficient process for residents that use our coordinated transportation services,” said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chair Paul Coble. “These funds will provide a positive and immediate impact to the quality of life of veterans, military families and other residents of Wake County.”

With the technological upgrades proposed with funds from the grant, customers would be able to utilize the WCTS telephone system 24/7 to:

·  access automated transportation, Veterans Services and Human Services information,

U.S. Dept. of Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood and North Carolina Dept. of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti at grant award ceremony

·  retrieve real-time “where is my ride?” customer ride status information

·  schedule trip reservation requests, and speak with a live WCTS customer service representative agent during business hours.

WCTS provides coordinated transportation for 62 programs, including veterans and family transportation, and general public transportation, known as TRACS.

In addition, WCTS provides medical transportation services to the Veterans Administration, Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill medical centers. The program also provides services for veterans and customers from neighboring Johnston County.

In all, WCTS provides more than 300,000 customer trips to nearly 150,000 individuals, including 24,750 veterans, each year.

Residents who need more information about WCTS should call 919-212-7005.

ATLANTA, GA–October 3, 2011 – RouteMatch Software today announced that Laura Reeves Vernon has joined the company as Director of Fixed Route Services. Laura comes to RouteMatch from Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) where she managed KCATA’s fixed route operations for twenty four years.

Laura brings a wealth of experience in fixed route scheduling and dispatching and a keen understanding of customer needs to RouteMatch. At KCATA, Laura served as an internal technical project manager for procurement and implementation of the transit agency’s Computer-Aided Dispatching and Automated Vehicle Location (CAD/ AVL) system. There, Laura led the fixed route conversion from manual to automated processes as well as system to system migration; she was instrumental in redefining process flow to boost operational efficiencies.  Laura also brings to RouteMatch deep knowledge in report writing and bridging the gaps between predictions and real-time information accuracy in traveler information systems.

“Laura knows the right questions to ask to guide customers through a smooth transition, and is committed to our customers’ success,” said Richard Greenaway, Vice President of Professional Services, RouteMatch Software. “Laura’s experience, resourcefulness, and focus on metrics are well-aligned with our company values and strategic direction. We’re delighted to have her here.”

At RouteMatch, Laura will provide oversight to RouteMatch Software’s fixed route implementations as well as closely support both fixed route business development and product development.

Said Laura, “I’m excited to be joining RouteMatch to help continue to grow the company and help our customers get the most value from their technology investment. RouteMatch’s culture and commitment to customer service are why I came on board. RouteMatch’s approach is so much more than just selling software – it’s about providing a total solution so transit agencies can improve ridership service and make a difference.”

 Laura holds a B.A. from Park University in Parkville, Missouri in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management.

 About RouteMatch Software

 RouteMatch is the leading provider of transit ITS software and solutions.  Founded in 2000, the company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and RouteMatch works with 425 transit agencies in 48 states across the U.S and internationally. RouteMatch has multiple state-wide contracts including those with Georgia, Iowa, South Carolina, South Dakota, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Partnering with public and private sector passenger transportation providers, the company’s products address routing, scheduling, dispatching, billing, reporting, fixed route CAD/AVL, paratransit and fixed route integration, traveler information services, fleet management, and more.  Additional information about RouteMatch’s ITS technologies are available at www.routematch.com or by calling RouteMatch toll-free at 1-888-840-8791.

Georgia transit agencies gain scheduling and dispatching solutions

ATLANTA, GA–August 29, 2011  – The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has awarded Atlanta-based RouteMatch Software a $1.6 million scheduling and dispatching contract  for its transit agencies state-wide.

With RouteMatch’s intelligent transportation systems (ITS) in place, GDOT hopes to help regional rural transit agencies improve operational efficiencies and ridership service by optimizing route scheduling and standardizing reporting across the state. Transit agencies benefitting from the Web-based solutions include small, regional, multi-county and large rural systems.

“Many Georgia residents are challenged with long trips to get to their jobs, medical care and everyday needs, and encounter real difficulties getting between different cities and counties. To achieve our transportation coordination goals, we need to effectively schedule trips across multiple service providers,” said Carol Comer, Acting Intermodal Director of the Georgia Department of Transportation. “We chose RouteMatch because of their collaborative approach and the success of their current mobility management projects in Georgia.  RouteMatch’s work with transit agencies of varying sizes and technical infrastructure was also important.  We’re happy to have RouteMatch on board.”

Over the past two years, significant jumps in ridership due to rising gas prices, unemployment, and an aging population have spurred the need for greater efficiencies state-wide. 

Utilizing RouteMatch’s integrated technology platform, Georgia’s transit agencies will be able to automate scheduling and dispatching, schedule trips while identifying funding source, automate billings for trips, track vehicle capabilities and inventory, and consolidate passenger manifests. In addition, RouteMatch’s technology will enable transit agencies to more easily prepare reports for GDOT and Georgia’s Department of Human Services.   

“Being based in Atlanta, we are especially thrilled to be working with the Georgia Department of Transportation with their coordination efforts and helping our state’s agencies enhance service and increase region-wide trips,” said Tim Quinn, Executive Vice President, RouteMatch Software.

“GDOT has been incredibly visionary and inclusive in pulling together multiple stake-holders to pool vehicles, optimize routes, and combine administrative operations. We are proud to partner with them and jump-start the program.”

 About RouteMatch Software

 RouteMatch is the leading provider of transit ITS software and solutions.  Founded in 1999, the company is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and RouteMatch works with 425 transit agencies in 48 states across the U.S and internationally. RouteMatch has multiple state-wide contracts including those with Georgia, Iowa, South Carolina, South Dakota, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Partnering with public and private sector passenger transportation providers, the company’s products address routing, scheduling, dispatching, billing, reporting, fixed route CAD/AVL, paratransit and fixed route integration, traveler information services, fleet management, and more.  Additional information about RouteMatch’s ITS technologies are available at www.routematch.com or by calling RouteMatch toll-free at 1-888-840-8791.