School Transportation News Magazine | November 2009


[Headlines]


The Road to Implementation: Chicago Completes GPS Install, Los Angeles Decides By Stephane Babcock


Two and a half years ago, a group of GPS


providers visited the city of Chicago in hopes of winning one of the largest GPS contracts the industry had seen. But, af- ter bids from eight different companies, including IBM, Cingular Wireless and Edulog, the initial RFP was scrapped and the district and its numerous contractors went back to the drawing board. Now, af- ter re-examining the needs of both its stu- dents and its contractors, Chicago Public Schools has successfully installed Synovia GPS units on 1,839 contracted buses. “Tere were several reasons why CPS


decided to implement GPS on all school bus contractors’ assigned buses,” said CPS spokesman Frank Shuftan, those reasons including safety and security, routing effi- ciency and special needs student tracking. “Te system will more accurately record ridership among students who are Med- icaid eligible, which will mean the district will be able to prepare and submit more accurate Medicaid reimbursement claims on a more timely basis, as well as reduce the number of labor hours involved in data gathering and reporting.” Tis has been made possible with Sy-


novia’s Mobile Intelligence, a mobile data terminal (MDT) that allows drivers to re- ceive updated route and student informa- tion daily and log students as they load and unload the bus. “It gives them a very accurate and veri-


fiable way to provide ridership data,” said Brad Bishop, Synovia’s chief operating offi- cer. “Previously, they used a transportation log in which they would handwrite every- thing and key it into a spreadsheet later.” But, this installation wasn’t just about


new technology and cutting down on paperwork. It also entailed working with 24 different contractors, each considered a separate client, as each individually bought the devices from Synovia. “Tere were a lot of moving parts, a lot


22 Circle 116 on STN Product Info Card


of needs and wants, a lot of variables,” said Bishop. “It required a lot of communica- tion on a daily and weekly basis. We had to take everything we’ve learned all the way since our very first install and bring it to the table.” One of the many moving parts, Falcon


Transportation, tipped its hat to the CPS Bureau of Student Transportation (BST), which researched and developed the proj- ect for many years before the installation even began. Each contractor, in partner- ship with the BST, implemented an inde- pendent review of several GPS providers and products based upon criteria set forth by the department. “Trough the cooperation with many


entities, the Chicago Public School system has successfully embarked upon a unique public and private venture that will yield long-term benefits to the schools, private contractors and the parents and students it serves,” said Falcon Transportation Pres- ident and CEO Edward Peterson. Te entire process was completed in


about six weeks during the summer, with Synovia installing some of the systems and training some of the contractors to put in the devices themselves, all at the same time. Synovia’s Bishop gave a lot of the kudos to the school bus companies, who were very cooperative and helped the company stay on its planned timeline. “Te bus companies were great to work


with,” he added. While Chicago has completed its mis-


sion to equip all its buses with GPS, an- other large metropolitan school district is ready to begin. Los Angeles Unified School District recently granted ap- proval to outfit 1,300 district-owned school buses and close to 200 other ve- hicles, such as service trucks and other field support vehicles, with Everyday Solutions’ system, according to Trans- portation Director Rick Boull’t.


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