Challenges
LeeTran provides Lee County, the most populous and fastest growing county in Southwest Florida, with fixed-route and paratransit service. After bringing its contracted ADA paratransit division, Passport, in-house in 2004, LeeTran needed a system to automate their communications processes to effectively manage their 600 paratransit trips a day. Their key goals were to increase scheduling flexibility to allow for same-day trips, track drivers' whereabouts to improve safety and on-time service, and to electronically collect and verify job/vehicle data to increase reporting accuracy.

Solution
To meet these objectives, LeeTran wanted an "off-the-shelf" solution that demonstrated a high degree of functionality, dependability, and ease-of-use. They selected Mentor Ranger® rugged in-vehicle mobile computers. Running on Ranger is Mentor Mobility, a mobile software application designed specifically for the paratransit industry that lets drivers communicate in real-time with dispatchers.

Results
With Mentor's ITS solution, LeeTran has been able to increase schedule flexibility, improve reporting accuracy, and create a quieter work environment for drivers and dispatchers as electronic text messaging replaced noisy radio communication. As Jill Brown, Operations Manager at LeeTran explains: "It has made our organization more efficient. With the new AVL system, we're now able to check the real-time status of drivers and, if we see a time issue developing, we can make schedule adjustments to ensure on-time service. As well, when a call comes in, dispatchers can instantly see the vehicle that is nearest to the call, and electronically message the driver. The immediacy of this new scheduling system means that customers can book same-day trips, improving their access to the community."

"NOW, IF A CUSTOMER TELLS ME THAT THEIR BUS DIDN'T SHOW UP AT THE SPECIFIED TIME, I CAN LOOK AT THE SYSTEM AND SEE THE DRIVER'S EXACT LOCATION AND ACTIVITIES. THIS RESULTS IN FASTER ISSUE RESOLUTION. TRACKING DRIVER ACTIVITIES ALSO MEANS A SAFER RIDE FOR PASSENGERS."

- Jill Brown, Operations Manager, LeeTran

ROI

Improved On-time Service Same-day trip booking Faster Issue Resolution Quieter Work Environment Improved Reporting Accuracy