Let's Go Fall 2018

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Maintenance Keeps Fleet Running Smoothly Shop keeps pace with ever-changing technology Internal combustion engines have advanced a lot in the last 20 years, and as a result the mechanics and their workspaces have changed at CityBus.

niche and become a Class A mechanic,” George says. The shop also fosters a team environment where mechanics can work together to solve problems.

“Buses have progressed from old mechanical systems with nests of wires to new computerized operating systems,” says manager of maintenance George Turner. Technicians today use laptops to read error codes from multiple onboard computers. They also must deal with proprietary software systems like the MyCityBus app as well as onboard camera equipment.

George helped design the new CityBus Maintenance facility, opened in 2003, which is spacious and well lit. It has the diagnostic and shop equipment to work on engines, transmissions, and electronic operating systems. It also has a two-man paint and body shop that takes care of dings and scrapes, paint, and applying the distinctive advertising wraps. “A paint/ body shop of this caliber is rare in public transport,” George says.

“We have a well-rounded fleet shop that can keep all our buses running and also do work for other federally funded agencies,” George says. “The secret is having qualified technicians who excel in their area, whether it be welding, suspension, steering, brakes, or electronics. Now, with newer technology, problems can often be pinpointed with less manual exploration. It allows us to use our time much more efficiently.”

CityBus employs 13 full time technicians caring for 73 buses, which can log as many as 8,600 miles a day when Purdue is in session. “It is a daunting, close to 24 hour/7 day a week task to keep them all in good working order,” George says.

Bus manufacturers offer in-depth training for mechanics, which CityBus pays for, and technicians can earn ASE (Auto Service Excellence) certifications.

Most CityBus mechanics come from heavy truck shops, the military, or technical schools. “If a person has a good mechanical aptitude and a great attitude, we can help them find their 2

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Matt Corns inspects compressed natural gas pump.

Shawn Coffman runs diagnostics on bus 4008. www.facebook.com/gocitybus

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Preventative Maintenance Is Key "Preventative maintenance in a fleet this size is crucial," George says. "Maintenance managers can be reactive, waiting for problems to occur and then repairing them.

Or they can be proactive and try to spot potential problems and get them repaired before they break."

Greg Smith inspects a turbo.

George is proactive, and also tries to be predictive in his work as well. “Predictive means trying to determine when we think something might fail. It takes good record keeping, sampling, skill set, and intuition to make it a success.”

An example is the Oil Analysis Program, where a careful history of the main propulsion components is kept for each bus. “If excessive metal wear starts showing up in a particular sample, for example, we can predict that bus will need work,” he says.

Drivers and utility crew are the first line of defense in maintenance. A “defect card” system begins with the drivers who do a pre-trip inspection prior to leaving the garage. They pass information to the utility crew, who clean, wash, fuel, and park the buses at the end of each day. “Then we prioritize repairs starting with any safety deficiencies first,” George says.

Dave Tesky inspects HVAC system.

Chris Parker changes oil and oil filter.

A fixed route bus gets routine maintenance every 6,000 miles which includes oil, filters, and fluids changes, along with brake, steering and suspension checks.

“Manufacturers aim for a bus life of 12 years, but we are able to run 15-18 years minimum because of our preventive maintenance,” George says.

All for Safety “Everything we do is for our customer at the bus stop,” George says. “They don’t want excuses. They want safe, reliable transportation to get them to their destination on the bitterly cold or blistering hot Indiana days. From a maintenance perspective, it all starts right here in our shop and we do our very best to provide that level of service.

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Mark Corns paints bus 1708.

“We also strive to be good stewards of the public funding sources afforded to us. We try to go above and beyond to make sure we stretch those dollars as far as they will go.”

Lyle Johnston welds the frame of a bus for Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation. www.facebook.com/gocitybus

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CityBus and Purdue Studen Revitalize Transfer Center CityBus partners with students to bring new life to CityBus Center rain gardens Students from Purdue University enrolled in the Environmental and Ecological Urban Water Projects course collaborated with CityBus to develop a vision which included selecting native plants that would be able to handle the amount of sunlight and salt in the area, as well as the amount of stormwater runoff.

The final project included five different types of native plants, repair of existing drainage systems, and the installation of river rocks to guide water flow. With these improvements in place, the rain gardens will be able to manage around 243,700 gallons of stormwater runoff annually and filter pollutants out of the water as it absorbs natually back into the ground. This helps to keep these potential toxins out of the sewer system and Wabash River.

“We were thrilled to partner with the Urban Water Projects students in order to bring new life to our rain gardens and make them not only a beautiful part of our landscape, but also something that is truly functional and eco-friendly,” says Martin Sennett, general manager. “These improvements will make a positive impact for years to come 6

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and help protect the Wabash River.”

Ashley Van Wormer, a senior in Civil Engineering, explains, “This project is far larger than just making the Transfer Center a nicer looking place. This project is designed to educate people on and promote the use of greener practices to help improve the local environment’s overall health." Signs will be placed throughout the rain gardens educating visitors on their purpose and benefit.

The public can view the rain gardens and learn more about their benefits by visiting the CityBus Transfer Center at 316 N. 3rd Street in Lafayette.

nts Team Up to Rain Gardens

Volunteers help landscape at the CityBus Center Transfer Terminal. www.facebook.com/gocitybus

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Reliable Ride Helps Workers Even before Marcus Caldwell graduated from Lafayette Jeff High School in 1999, he began riding the CityBus ACCESS bus to work at the Purdue dining halls.

Marcus is a talented artist. He worked mainly in drawing and painting in high school. “Art was my favorite subject,” he says. “Always an easy A+.”

He still takes the ACCESS bus to work at University Bookstore, along with other regular riders who work at various campus sites. “It works out great,” Marcus says. “It’s reliable, I get to work on time every day, and I always have a ride home.”

Recently he began taking classes in clay at LaLa Gallery and has created sculptures and plaques embellished with drawings and carvings, paint, and glaze.

He recently had a show at LaLa Gallery and sold several of his pieces, but often he gives them to family and loved ones.

“The ACCESS bus really helps Marcus be independent,” says Hallie Robinson, outreach coordinator and travel trainer.

“He calls to arrange rides, and calls when he has plan changes. He’s really able to control his own schedule and goes where he wants and needs to go.”

Marcus lives with his cat, Aqua, and in his spare time enjoys watching old movies and basketball on television. He enjoys texting with Katie and Frankie, two friends from the Purdue Best Buddies program.

“They are going to graduate in 2019 and have great careers and make big money,” Marcus predicts. “I text them every night and they text me back.”

The ACCESS bus also gives Marcus and the other regular riders a social outlet.

“Folks who ride together every day talk and make friends,” Hallie says. “There’s a community of friendship on the bus.”

Marcus has been working at University Bookstore for 18 years. “I like it. It gives me a purpose and keeps me busy,” he says. His work day duties include dusting, cleaning floors and restrooms, and keeping the outside of the building picked up.

Working in a bookstore, sometimes his job involves carrying boxes of books.

“I like the physical work,” he says. “It keeps me in shape and instead of going to the gym I get my workouts here at work.”

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He also takes care of his house, which he bought in 2005 with the help of Habitat for Humanity. “I worked cutting grass and cleaning at the Habitat ReStore for my sweat equity,” he says. He is currently shopping for a tree for his front yard and has his eye on a blue spruce. “It’s a good life,” he says.

Photo: Stormfront Productions

ACCESS provides link to the community, allows riders to become more independent

Photo: Hallie Robinson Marcus Caldwell painting at Lala Gallery and Studio. www.facebook.com/gocitybus

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Driver Enjoys People, Nature on Her Route “Things always go better when you’re nice to people,” says CityBus driver Lisa Judge. “The mood on the bus starts with the driver. I try to say hello and goodbye and have a good day to everyone who gets on. People respond to that.”

out the front window and it’s always changing,” she says. Her favorite route is the #10 out Northwestern Avenue and Morehouse Road. “And in the spring, Happy Hollow is really beautiful,” she says.

She will look for ways to help people, such as waiting a few seconds for someone to get to the bus stop, or letting a person with a walker off at a cleared spot when it’s snowing, or reminding someone to use the crosswalk button on a busy road.

“People appreciate seeing you do nice things for other people and they will thank you for it,” she says. One hot summer day a passenger brought a case of bottled water onto the bus to share. “It really made my day offering the water to other people,” Lisa says.

One day she saw five bald eagles soaring above the CityBus parking lot. “I took pictures with my cell phone, but of course you couldn’t see them,” she says. So she bought a camera to capture the eagles.

“I started taking pictures of other birds farther away and it turns out I captured some neat ones that I had never really seen before,” she says.

Lisa’s caring attitude for people extends to the volunteer work she does for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), where she works with children in the court system, and gathers information to make recommendations to the judge in the best interest of the child. She has advocated for seven children in her four years of volunteering in Tippecanoe County.

“I love my volunteer work for the same reason I love my job--the opportunity to help and interact with all kinds of people. It is a perfect fit for my skills and interests,” she says.

Another reason Lisa loves driving for CityBus is the opportunity to enjoy nature while on the job. “I have a great view 10

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She became interested in birding (actively going out in search of different birds) and now on her days off, she goes to local parks with her camera and binoculars looking for birds. She has also taken the Indiana Audubon Society “Big County

Big Year Challenge” to seek out as many species of birds as can be found in each county, which for Tippecanoe County is 165. So far this year she has sighted 152 species.

Lisa estimates she has taken 50,000 pictures in the last few years, of flowers, butterflies, dragonflies, bugs, frogs, and of course birds. “I love capturing the beauty of nature with my camera, and sharing it,” she says. One of her photos of a ladybug on a dandelion was featured in Outdoor Indiana magazine, and another photo she took of a frog in a pond surrounded by duckweed was made into a 1,000 piece puzzle. “That puzzle was all shades of green so it was really hard,” she says.

Lisa also looks for less inspiring things as she drives. “I’ll stop whenever I can to pick up trash from around our bus stops or at the CityBus Center,” she says. She also keeps an eye out for stray dogs and cats, or people who might be in distress. Once she saw a bank deposit bag in the road and alerted CityBus dispatch. “It turned out to be several thousand dollars from a local restaurant and the next time I went there and the manager found out I was the one who called it in, he gave me a free steak dinner and drinks.”

Lisa Judge scouting for birds at the Celery Bog. www.facebook.com/gocitybus

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Wayne Reeder is the 2018 CityBus Bus Roadeo winner.

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CityBus Hosts Second Annual Bus Roadeo Competition Bus Roadeo provides drivers a chance to improve everyday skills and compete against other drivers If you saw a bunch of buses driving around the parking lot at Lyboult Sports Park on Canal Road in March, you might have witnessed the second annual CityBus Roadeo.

Ten obstacles on the course test each operator’s ability to negotiate turns and stops at precise points while not touching any cones or shifting into reverse. In addition to testing driving skills, operators are judged on uniform appearance and each operator completes a full bus inspection where they are tasked with detecting several deliberately placed safety-related defects.

Wayne says. He also had an opportunity to workshop and network with other operators, and brought back valuable best practices from across the industry.

Gary Nelson Jr. won the First Annual CityBus Roadeo in October 2016. He competed at the International Bus Roadeo in 2017 in Reno, NV.

“The goal of this event is to provide friendly competition and build camaraderie among those who compete,” says John Connell, manager of operations. “Our operators are very skilled and the Roadeo provides an opportunity for them to show off their talents.”

Drivers compete in 2018 CityBus Bus Roadeo.

Wayne Reeder, who has driven for CityBus since 2014, was the winner of this year’s local Roadeo competition.

By earning the highest combined score, Wayne won an all-expenses-paid trip to the American Public Transportation Association’s International Bus Roadeo where he tested his skills against the best bus operators from around the world.

“I had a great time at the CityBus Roadeo and I was very excited to represent the company and my peers at the International contest in Tampa,” www.facebook.com/gocitybus

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Out With the Old, In With the New Dispatch Center remodel boosts efficiency New computers, screens, cameras, custom software and ergonomicallydesigned furniture will help the CityBus dispatch team serve riders in a more efficient, safer manner.

“Our dispatch center at 1250 Canal Road is the hub of operations management, a critical component in assuring our riders travel easily, safely and on time,” says John Connell, manager of operations.

Wall-mounted and desktop screens capture live data, such as the location of each bus, with 60 typically on the road at any given time. Information is continuously fed to CityBus systems that alert riders when to expect their buses, when there may be a detour, or updates on weather events. Other software features track the number of passengers on each bus, counted by an infrared system at the doors.

Two wall-mounted, oversize screens carry a combined two dozen live photos of exterior and interior facilities at the headquarters and downtown transfer station. Each bus also has an array of video cameras onboard.

"Stepping into the dispatch center, with 10 computer screens displaying every aspect of operations, is like what you might see in a science 14

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fiction movie," John says. “Watching our dispatchers handle multiple tasks, track all the operations, and coordinate requests from drivers is a lesson in efficient use of technology to benefit our riders.”

A staff of four share dispatch duties, covering the hours of 4 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Their responsibilities include scheduling drivers, responding to in-route bus needs, monitoring camera feeds from the headquarters and downtown transfer station and tracking the location of every bus in service.

“Because our dispatchers monitor many areas, we chose furniture that can be adjusted for each staff person, assuring comfort and their ability to stay sharp at all times,” Martin Sennett, general manager says. “While dispatch is a seldomseen part of CityBus, it’s a vital center of activity, making periodic upgrades important.”

Remodeled CityBus Dispatch Center. www.facebook.com/gocitybus

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Where’s the Bus? Now You’ll Know CityBus launches new and improved mobile app with aim to improve rider experience MyCityBus is a new GPS-based bus location phone app that will provide real-time bus information, news, and route-specific alerts.

“We’re very excited to offer this new mobile app for our customers,” says manager of development Bryce Gibson. “The enhanced capabilities of MyCityBus equips riders with all the tools they need to use our services with ease.”

MyCityBus is available to download for free from the Google Play or Apple App Store. When the app is downloaded on a rider’s phone, geolocation determines the closest bus stops to their location.

And with one screen-tap, riders can view estimated departure times for the next buses and routes servicing these stops.

By selecting a favorite location or route, or entering a starting point and destination, riders can get real-time GPS-based information for all possible routing options. Riders can track the location, estimated departure time and passenger load of the selected bus on an interactive map powered by Google.

Customers will be able to easily access the information they want about the routes and bus stops they use with an updated alerts management system.

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can subscribe to receive text, email or push-notifications containing bus departure information, including one-time or recurring notifications for specific routes, days and times. Riders can also sign up for service alerts for the routes they use frequently.

Youth Passes Kids ride all year for only

$2.00

Youth in grades K-4 ride free, while students in grades 5-12, 18 and younger, must pay regular fare or purchase a Youth Bus Pass for $2. The pass is good from the date of purchase through Sept. 15, 2019, and includes unlimited rides.

Purchase a Youth Pass in person at CityBus Center, 316 N. Third St. in downtown Lafayette or CityBus Admin Office, 1250 Canal Rd. CityBus Center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 8:45 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Cash payments are not accepted at the CityBus Center customer service window. CityBus Admin Office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m to 5 p. m.

The student and a parent/guardian must both be present to purchase the pass. Proof of age and enrollment in school is also required. Children ages 5 and under ride free, but must be accompanied by an adult. www.facebook.com/gocitybus

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Justin Metz, travel trainee, learns the routes from Hallie Robinson, outreach coordinator.

Travel Training What is Travel Training?

Travel Training is a free program that teaches people how to ride to and from their destinations on CityBus. Travel Training is not intended to replace occupational therapy needed by certain riders, but it will help those who need a little extra assistance navigating the routes.

Who can use the service?

Anyone interested in learning how to ride CityBus can request help.

How is help requested?

Contact Hallie Robinson, outreach coordinator/travel trainer, at least one week in advance. Training hours are Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are subject to availability.

Hallie will teach you how to plan your trips, use tools to make your trip easier, and get to and from your destination. She can ride with you to your destination and back if needed.

Contact Hallie at 765-420-2989 or Hallie@gocitybus.com.

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Where's the Bus? CityBus' real-time information tools provide the answer MyCityBus

Our NEW mobile app! Using MyCityBus, riders can access schedules and real-time GPS-based bus location information, track their bus on a map, and receive transit news and route-specific alerts. Download the free MyCityBus app from your app store or view it online at bus.gocitybus.com.

MyRide

The MyRide tool provides bus arrival times when you enter the bus stop quick code (starts with "BUS...." on the bus stop sign). Visit www.gocitybus.com/ wheres-the-bus

Text

Get arrival times via text.

• Find the bus stop ID (BUS###) on the bus stop sign.

• Text “RT4” followed by the bus stop ID and route to 41411 (carrier charges may apply). Example: If you are at stop BUS389 on route 1B, you would text RT4 BUS389 1B to 41411.

• Receive next three departure times via text.

• To refresh departure times, simply reply "R" to the text received from RT4.

Stay in Contact Sign up for text alerts Text “gocitybus” to 64600 (standard rates apply)

Sign up for email alerts http://bit.ly/CBemailalert ridehelp@gocitybus.com 765-742-7433 (Select option 1) www.gocitybus.com

Let's Go! is published biannually by CityBus. ©2018 by CityBus. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or duplicated without the prior written permission of CityBus. Let's Go! Newsletter, CityBus, 1250 Canal Road, P.O. Box 588, Lafayette, Indiana 47902-0588. Phone: 765-423-2666. Erica Metzinger, editor/designer/photographer; Lynn Holland, writer; Hallie Robinson, photographer (noted photos). www.facebook.com/gocitybus

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m o r f e r ng? o m i r s i o t f r g e v n i d h A s i W your Include CityBus in your advertising plan.

Find out about the different options we offer and more examples at www.gocitybus.com/advertise or contact Marketing at marketing@gocitybus.com or call 765-423-2666.

765-742-7433 | www.gocitybus.com Download the NEW MyCityBus app from your app store today!