Announcing

May 2024 Service ChangesHow to Take Transit to the TidesMay 2024 Career Fair

Routes

Delays and Cancellations Norfolk Virginia Beach Newport News Hampton Chesapeake Portsmouth

Updated

Hampton Transit Center: ID Card Machine UnavailableCustomer Service Call Center Sunday ClosuresParatransit Eligibility Evaluation and Processing ServicesMay Is Bike MonthELAC June 2024Preview the Tattoo on the Ferry

Smart Cities & Innovation Committee

Download May Meeting Package

Meeting Minutes – May 15, 2020

The Smart Cities and Innovations Committee (SCIC) convened at 12:00 pm on Friday, May 15, 2020.

Commissioners in attendance

Chairperson, Commissioner Andria McClellan (Norfolk)
Alt. Commissioner Tara Reel (Virginia Beach)

Hampton Roads Transit Staff in attendance

William Harrell, President & Chief Executive Officer
Ray Amoruso, Chief Planning & Development Officer
Michael A. Price, Chief Information Officer & Chief Technology Officer
Kamlesh Chowdhary, Director of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
Erin Glenn, Director of Enterprise Technology Solutions (ETS)
Bobby Edwards, Bus Transportation
Joe Dillard, Government Relations Liaison
Chandler Motley, Transit Operations
Shelia Gulledge, Technology Project Manager, SCIC Administrative Liaison

Additional Attendees

Amy M. Inman, Department of Transit (Norfolk)
Janice Taylor, PAC
Denise Johnson, TRAC
Paul Atkinson, Eggleston Services
Judith Brown, League of Women Voters, South Hampton
Mike Wheeler, Coastal Ride
Ned Freeman, Uzurv
Trish Fitzpatrick, Uzurv
Daniel Ramot, Via CEO
Michael Vaccarino, Via
Alex Levoie, Via
Monica Ceragioli, Via

The SCIC meeting package contained the Agenda and March 2020 Meeting Minutes. It was distributed electronically to all Commissioners in advance of the meeting and posted to Hampton Roads Transit’s SCIC website.

Agenda – May 15, 2020

  1. Call To Order
    1. Review and Approval of March 12, 2020 SCIC Meeting Minutes
  2. New Business
    1. Microtransit in Public Transit Presentations
  3. Old Business (time permitting)
    1. Updates on Local Smart Cities Initiatives
    2. Legislative Updates
  4. Adjournment
Opening Remarks

Commissioner McClellan convened the SCIC webinar acknowledging that working in different ways and using technology in conducting these sessions may be our new normal. She began with a brief overview and outline of microtransit services in public transit and expectation of this and the next SCIC session to hear from microtransit providers to learn about leveraging these services and unique approaches to microtransit.

1. New Business
  1. Microtransit Presentations
    • Ned Freeman and Trish Fitzpatrick, representing Maryland-based Uzurv, presented their on demand platform and Uber-like service that includes the software/mobile application, professional services, reporting and strategic partnerships with companies that provide dispatch/administrative assistance.
    • The Via team, led by Michael Vaccarino and Daniel Ramot, stepped through their microtransit business and operating models (Direct to Consumer; Transit-as-a-Service; Software-as-a-Service). The team discussed Via technology, including their rider and agency experience as well as Via’s paratransit service in operation at HRT.
  2. Microtransit Discussion
    • SCIC members actively engaged in microtransit exploration covering a myriad of questions and considerations such as how this concept may be leveraged to increase paratransit riders on fixed routes via on-demand services to a hub or last stop.
    • Other discussion items included:
      • Specific concerns of Via’s paratransit service and possible service enhancements
      • ADA services and accommodations (and service animal protocols) for those with little/no Internet access or smartphones
      • COVID-specific safety precautions (disinfecting between every passenger, etc.)
      • Reviewing how Virginia Transit Association and Uber are quickly revising their services to accommodate pandemic issues
      • How can technology help move forward into our “new normal”
      • Fare payment options for the unbanked or those without credit/debit cards; possibility of having microtransit subscription services
      • Microtransit availability for under-served or unserved areas (transportation deserts), micro-zones and creation of service hubs for frequently traveled locales
      • In response to Judith Brown’s comments, Comm. McClellan agreed that we need to brainstorm on innovative ways of what transit may look like going forward
Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 1:16 p.m.

Meeting Date

May 15, 2020 12:00pm



View Smart Cities & Innovation

Location
Webinar