Carol Zimmerman

The Convergence of Transportation, Information Technology, and Visitor Experience at Acadia National Park

In 2002, as part of the Acadia National Park Field Operational Test, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components were deployed to help visitors travel around Mount Desert Island and in Acadia National Park. Real-time travel information was collected and integrated with Island Explorer buses and disseminated to visitors via an automated annunciator that transmitted an audio message and displayed the next bus stop on an electronic sign within the bus. Also, electronic signs displayed real-time departure times of the next Island Explorer bus at bus stops. Visitors could also obtain real-time parking conditions at two popular destinations in the park. Using data from surveys of visitors from July 29, 2002, to September 1, 2002, this article describes visit and visitor characteristics and their experiences using the traveler information. The implications of ITS as a tool for addressing transportation problems and enhancing visitor experience with the park are discussed.

Tourism Business and Intelligent Transportation Systems: Acadia National Park, Maine

A suite of intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies was deployed as part of the Acadia National Park (Maine) field operational test (FOT). This study evaluated the FOT that took place in 2002 and focused on the experience of the managers of businesses in the gateway communities near the park. The ITS FOT was intended to test the effectiveness of ITS for addressing the transportation problems that had the potential to negatively affect visitor experience at the park and in turn the tourism industry upon which the region depends. A survey of 257 business managers presents their views on transportation problems in the area, attitudes toward the Island Explorer bus service, and reactions to ITS. The results indicate that managers perceive many benefits of ITS to visitors. They also see general economic benefits from ITS but are more neutral about direct effects to their own businesses. Finally, a surprisingly negative reaction from the business community to Acadia traveler information on the new Maine 511 telephone service illustrates the challenge of marrying the interests of the business community with those of travelers.

Impacts to Transit from Variably Priced Toll Lanes Results from U.S. Department of Transportation Urban Partnership Agreements

This paper describes the impacts on transit performance from three separate conversions of high-occupancy vehicle lanes into variably priced high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in Miami, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Atlanta, Georgia. The data showed that the conversions had no negative impact on bus performance. In all three cities, the buses experienced travel time savings after the conversion: 17 min in Miami, 4.5 min in Minneapolis, and 5 min in Atlanta. Similarly, the HOT conversions did not negatively affect bus ridership. Ridership increased over the baseline by 57% in Miami and 13% in Minneapolis. In Atlanta, ridership increased by 11%, and this increase began before the conversion. Bus riders’ overall perception of the HOT lanes has been positive. In surveys, the bus riders from Miami and Minneapolis gave high ratings for travel times and reliability in the HOT lane corridors. Riders in Atlanta rated the bus service as very good but were not as positive about the tolls. Riders disagreed that the HOT conversion had improved their travel or been good for the Atlanta region. These negative responses may be attributable in part to widespread disgruntlement with the HOT concept that existed even before implementation.