CUSTOMER PREFERENCES FOR TRANSIT ATIS: RESEARCH REPORT

This Customer Preferences for Transit ATIS (Advanced Traveler Information System) report reflects federal interest in (1) understanding the extent to which transit agencies are currently trying innovative, advanced ways of offering transit information to their ridership, especially real-time information and (2) what transit riders prefer regarding the use of high technology tools to access this information. This peer reviewed report documents the findings from a customer preference survey conducted through a series of 12 workshops covering 284 transit customers in four cities to determine: what type of transit information customers prefer; how they want to receive it; where and when they want to receive it, and what the critical human factors issues are in presenting transit information. Key findings indicate that customers prefer: accurate and up to date information as a first priority; high quality static information including traditional wayside signage; realtime information at as many stops as cost-effectively possible; while on vehicles, automated next stop announcements, and better marketing agencies.