Akron, OH – The Regional Transit Authority of Akron, Ohio (“METRO”) recently selected Macro Corporation to prepare a roadmap and system engineering process for the “greenfield” deployment of a wide range of state-or-the-art advanced public transportation systems (APTS) while also enhancing wireless voice and data communications capabilities fleet-wide. All facets of today’s proven and emerging APTS technologies will be considered that, once fully operational, promises to significantly improve service quality, safety, productivity, and an attractive return on investment (ROI) for the City. The suite of APTS systems such as computer-aided dispatch (CAD), GPS-based automatic vehicle location (AVL), and interactive voice response (IVR) systems, are planned for initial deployment in 2010-2011. These systems would also serve as the foundation for modern passenger amenities such as real-time bus and paratransit status information delivered online, wirelessly to passenger cell phones, and possibly on audio/visual displays placed at key bus stops.
 

Cincinnati, OH - The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) has awarded a contract to Macro to prepare a design plan and technical specification to upgrade their outdated CAD/AVL and 800 MHz analog radio systems in use by the region's "METRO" fixed-route bus and "ACCESS" paratransit services. The engagement's chief objectives include modernizing the CAD and AVL fixed-end and mobile systems with new, proven technologies, and upgrading the radio system for improved interoperability, compliance with current FCC licensing rules, and expanding coverage and capacity. Work will begin immediately and extend into 2011 for procurement and implementation oversight support.

San Diego, CA - SANDAG has extended Macro’s contract for design and implementation oversight services of the San Diego Trolley's CTC/SCADA System. The contract will extend Macro’s services to June  2010 and include Macro’s support of field testing and commissioning of the new system. The new Trolley CTC/SCADA system will monitor and control wayside and station facilities along the Trolley's 70 mile network. In addition to supporting operations at the new OCC site, Macro’s OCC/SCADA system design responsibilities will be extended to the field sites to upgrade passenger communications, Train-to-Wayside Controllers (which facilitate retrieval of train location data and communications between the central system and car-borne systems), and traction power substation SCADA. In an earlier phase, Macro designed a new Operations Control Center that today serves the operations staff using interim systems.

Chicago, IL – Macro has been awarded a contract to design and specify a replacement CTC system for Amtrak’s Chicago Terminal. This facility monitors and controls rail operations at Chicago Terminal North, Chicago Terminal South, New Orleans Terminal, and the Michigan Line. The former system supplier no longer supports the existing system so Amtrak decided to move aggressively to procure a replacement system before severe problems could affect operations. Macro was hired based on our extensive experience with Amtrak systems to prepare a specification for a modern replacement system. We are also consulting on a new OCC facility design.

Philadelphia, PA – As part of a long-term, omnibus contract with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Macro has been tasked to assist SEPTA in evaluating vendor's proposed real-time, regional wireless data communications solutions for a new fare card implementation based on smartcard technology. When implemented, this new technology will allow regular commuters to use any of SEPTA’s buses, trolleys, subway, and regional rail system without the need for using cash, tickets, or traditional, disposable farecards.

San Francisco, CA – San Francisco’s Municipal Railway (a.k.a. “Muni”) is one of the USA’s oldest transit agencies and still operating the most recognizably historic transit service known worldwide – the city’s cable car network and streetcars – alongside their state-of-the-art assets such as hybrid buses and light rail. Today, Muni carries over 200 million riders per year within such a large city no larger than 50 square miles. The team of Booz Allen-Hamilton/Macro Corporation was selected by Muni to lead some of its most critical technology and operations improvement projects, such as designing, helping to procure, and then overseeing the vendor’s installation and test of, a new land mobile radio system and fleet management platform including computer aided dispatch/automatic vehicle location (CAD/AVL) system. Macro is also conducting an assessment of Muni’s operations control center (OCC) that supervises their entire surface transportation service. Procurement and installation of these new technological upgrades is planned to begin in 2010.