Dynamic Mobility Applications Policy Analysis: Policy and Institutional Issues for Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations (IDTO)

This report documents policy considerations for Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations (IDTO). IDTO applications provide individualized trip planning, transfer protection, and ridesharing options. The analysis identified the following potential policy issues: (1) Data Privacy: Certain personally identifiable information (PII) appears necessary for the operations of some IDTO apps. Like all of the dynamic mobility application bundles, IDTO will undergo additional analysis related to privacy issues and risks. In addition, each IDTO deployment should carefully consider privacy issues during design, implementation, and operations. (2) Data Sharing: Participating agencies will need to establish formal data-sharing agreements specifying which data elements are going to be shared, under what circumstances, and for what purposes. Data sharing between different agencies will require advanced planning. (3) Multi-Agency Coordination: Differing agendas among agencies, and even among modes within agencies, may make multi-modal coordination more difficult. The necessary cross-agency agreements can be difficult to negotiate and implement. (4) Data Interoperability: Regional IDTO deployments will need interoperability of operational data and the systems handling it will. Achieving interoperability will be largely a technical challenge, but it will involve significant policy hurdles as well. For example, participating agencies will need to agree on common data formats, and establish data sharing protocols. (5) Regulatory Status of Rideshare: The legal/regulatory status of transportation network companies is rapidly evolving. These concerns are not immediately applicable to IDTO, but, such regulations are likely to be widely variable. USDOT needs to remain attuned to the implications of state regulations of transportation network companies and the potential impact to the use of D-RIDE by transit agencies. (6) Social Equity: Social equity is a potential concern with IDTO, but is considered low since it is not yet clear if the system will be preferential to some users, or will instead improve travel times for all travelers regardless of their access to the applications. (7) D-RIDE Passenger Safety: This is considered a low priority since the entities interfacing with the D-RIDE providers' systems will only be sharing dynamic transportation service options available and will not be involved in the acceptance or rejection of any given ride, and online reviews of dynamic transportation services will help eliminate bad actors. (8) Increased Travel Times and Route Complexity: Dynamic routing and protected transfers have the potential to increase transit route service times. It is expected that transit agencies will develop business rules to specify schedule and route conditions under which protected transfers are and are not acceptable to the system. Other than addressing known security and privacy concerns, the policy team does not foresee a need for any new policies to be enacted or foresee any major issues that will stand in the way of successful deployment and use by agencies. Ultimately, guidance on installation, integration, operations, and maintenance will be produced by the technical teams when completing their technology transfer to the public sector.

• 
• Dataset URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32541
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/3553
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Supporting datasets available at: https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32541
• Corporate Authors:

  Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Department of Transportation

  Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Bettisworth, Caitlin
  • Hassol, Josh
  • Maloney, Cynthia
  • Sheridan, Amy
  • Sloan, Suzanne
• Publication Date: 2015-7-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 29p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data sharing; Equity; Institutional issues; Policy; Regulations; Ridesharing; Transfers; Travel time
• Identifier Terms: Integrated Dynamic Transit Operations (IDTO)
• Uncontrolled Terms: Data interoperability; Data privacy; Interagency coordination; Passenger safety; Trip planning
• Subject Areas: Policy; Public Transportation; I10: Economics and Administration; I70: Traffic and Transport;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01575241
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-JPO-14-134
• Contract Numbers: HW4AA8; HW4AA9
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 2015 5:23PM