Overview
The Avail system enables transit agencies to automate several important operational and maintenance functions. When used as designed, the system provides data that agencies can use for reporting and operational improvement.
This document helps users understand how data is generated by the Avail system and what that data
means. It helps to ensure that the data agencies receive from the Avail system is accurate, consistent,
and reliable. It will also help users understand how to use the Avail system for reporting and how the
FRITS project team works to ensure data reliability.
In addition, this document answers important questions such as:
- Where does my report data come from?
- How can this data be validated?
- What data should be used for official reporting to Pennsylvania Department of
- Transportation (PennDOT) and the National Transit Database/Federal Transit Administration
(NTD/FTA)? - What data should be used for internal analysis and operational improvement?
This document has grown out of common questions, concerns, and misunderstandings experienced with
early FRITS implementations. It is organized to address those common concerns and serve as a
reference point, not a comprehensive description of the entire Avail product.
User Guide Contents
1. Introduction................................................................................................................................6
2. Transit Data in myAvail................................................................................................................8
2.1. Schedule Data......................................................................................................................8
2.2. Operational Data .................................................................................................................9
2.3. Data Validation and Preparation.........................................................................................11
2.3.1. Exceptions..................................................................................................................11
2.3.2. Adjustments...............................................................................................................11
2.4. Reporting..........................................................................................................................12
3. Technical Data Flow...................................................................................................................13
3.1. Wi-Fi Download to/from Vehicle.........................................................................................13
3.2. Vehicle to Cloud Backend...................................................................................................13
3.3. Vehicle to Passenger Information Systems..........................................................................14
3.4. Data Flow Into Reporting....................................................................................................14
4. Important Data Categories.........................................................................................................15
4.1. Ridership...........................................................................................................................15
4.1.1. Farebox Ridership Data...............................................................................................15
4.1.2. APC Data....................................................................................................................16
4.2. Mileage Data.....................................................................................................................17
4.2.1. Scheduled and Actual Miles.........................................................................................17
4.2.2. Vehicle Miles..............................................................................................................17
4.3. Hours Data ........................................................................................................................18
4.3.1. Scheduled and Actual Hours........................................................................................18
4.3.2. Vehicle Hours.............................................................................................................18
5. Act 44 Reporting with myAvail ...................................................................................................19
5.1. Definitions.........................................................................................................................20
5.2. One-time Setup .................................................................................................................20
5.3. Recurring Data Entry..........................................................................................................21
6. Frequently Used Reports...........................................................................................................24
6.1. Schedule Health Report......................................................................................................24
6.1.1. Data Sources and Validation........................................................................................24
6.1.2. Use for Reporting .......................................................................................................25
6.2. Trip Running Times............................................................................................................25
6.2.1. Data Sources and Validation........................................................................................25
6.2.2. Use for Reporting .......................................................................................................25
6.3. On-time Analysis (by Departure/Arrival)..............................................................................25
6.3.1. Data Sources and Validation........................................................................................26
6.3.2. Use for Reporting .......................................................................................................26
6.4. APC and Farebox Ridership.................................................................................................26
6.4.1. Data Sources and Validation........................................................................................27
6.4.2. Use for Reporting .......................................................................................................27
6.5. NTD Summary Miles and Hours..........................................................................................27
6.5.1. Data Sources and Validation........................................................................................28
6.5.2. Use for Reporting .......................................................................................................28
6.6. Vehicle Mileage (Odometer)...............................................................................................28
6.6.1. Data Sources and Validation........................................................................................28
6.6.2. Use for Reporting .......................................................................................................28
7. Data Process for FRITS Implementation......................................................................................29
7.1. Data Discovery...................................................................................................................29
7.2. Schedule Data and Validation.............................................................................................29
7.3. Baseline Schedule Data Validation ......................................................................................29
7.4. Ongoing Data Assessments.................................................................................................30
7.5. Final Data Assessment........................................................................................................30
7.6. Ongoing Daily Maintenance................................................................................................31