Computer-Assisted Management of Special Transit Services for the Disabled

The handyDART services are provided by contractor organizations which operate under annual contracts with BC Transit. Modified lift-equipped vans which will accommodate four passengers in wheelchairs and four seated passengers are used for the handyDART service. The purpose was to develop, install, test, and evaluate two software packages identified as DART Manager Plus and DART Graphics. The objective was to improve the operating efficiency of special transit services by providing managers with an effective tool to better match the supply of service with ever increasing demands for this type of public transportation. In 1986, the Society used 17 vehicles to provide about 3,000 hours of handyDART service each month for 1,500 registered users. The software was developed originally for special transit services using 32 or fewer vehicles. The multi-user version of DART Manager Plus is now being used by Pacific Transit Cooperative which operates 52 handyDART vehicles in the City of Vancouver.