This project proposes an arrival notification system for paratransit passengers with disabilities to reduce the amount of time these passengers wait for service. Paratransit is a public transportation service offing flexible routes to accommodate, primarily, the elderly and disabled. Paratransit service is typically door-to-door and passengers are often given a time window in which to expect the vehicle, these windows commonly range between 20 and 40 minutes in duration.



Methodology



The arrival notification system delivers an automated voice call or text message to a registered user once their paratransit vehicle is in proximity to the pickup location with the objective of shortening the amount of time the passenger must wait outdoors. This system works on consumer mobile devices (Android an iOS) and uses the Google Traffic API for vehicle arrival estimation. The system may also provide paratransit drivers with real-time route guidance. Evaluation compared the waiting times of passengers with and without the notification system.