Best Transport Device

Reading Break

It has been nearly two weeks since the last update and our group is getting very close to presenting our final project. Unfortunately, we could not get too far on our project over the reading break because the suppliers we contacted were not returning our calls or emails. This Monday we were finally able to get a hold of a sales associate via telephone and discussed the vans they have designed that would definitely meet the requirements of the van needed for the STAR project. Unfortunately, one of the models we were considering was not available.

What’s Next?

We have now divvied the remaining sections of the project up amongst ourselves. The plan is to utilize Dropbox and email to collaborate on and collate our report on the weekend. We will then review it individually for typos, spelling and grammar errors, and discontinuities in each other’s sections. We will meet on Monday, March 5th to review the final report as a team and discuss our presentation strategy. Then on Tuesday, March 6th, we will meet with Marty from BEST and show him what we have for our portion of the project.

In the previous week, our project reached a roadblock when attempting to contact agencies for information we could use to help BEST with getting an accurate quote for a van for the STAR project. This week we were again slowed down unfortunately but this time we are waiting for a return email from the suppliers that have been contacted for quotes for the acquisition of a van. We will attempt to the contact the suppliers soon by telephone to verify they have received our email.

The good news this week is that our group has identified models we think will be suitable for the STAR project. Furthermore, we have gathered together and spent time creating a report template that will be presented to BEST. So when we hear back from van suppliers, the process of putting together the report will be much quicker.

This coming week is our reading week break and our group will be unable to meet, but we plan to keep in contact via email to get as much done the project as we can.

Although, our project has been on track up until this week, we have reached a bottleneck. Although, Kyle and Simon have both been attempting to contact agencies that Marty Frost from BEST has provided us with, they have had little success with the exception of Tracey from MOACS. This will result in our projected completion date being the end of February.

Tracey has provided us with a lot of very useful information that will help our group to complete this aspect of the STAR project for BEST. We now have a least a rough operating cost of the van, some pros and cons of the MOACS transportation vehicle and the contact information of a company in Surrey that MOACS used to obtain their van, Dynamic Bus Sales and Services. The model she directed us to is the Goshen Coach.

Also this week we have met with our group’s mentor, Andrew Cheung. Andrew gave us some guidance of what to do in the mean time while waiting for agencies to respond to our queries. We will be constructing a template for our report that we will be presenting to BEST, so when we do receive responses, it will be much easier and quicker for us to complete the report. Further, instead of doing one quote for a single model, as we had initially intended, Andrew suggested we do three. This way BEST can choose the one that is most suitable for them.

Below are the 3 models we are currently considering:

Dodge/Mercedes Sprinter

Note the two layouts below. The top image shows the normal layout of seats in the van. In the bottom image, we are proposing that two seats be removed near the side-access door to allow the passengers to move more freely in the van while still accommodating the 4 to 6 passenger capacity. The removed seats can be kept as spares, or reinstalled if larger capacity is required.

Images from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_Sprinter

Goshen Coast – Pacer LTD

Images from: http://www.goshencoach.com/PacerLTD.aspx

Turtle Top

Images from: http://www.turtletop.com/VanTerraTerraTransport/Features.aspx

Although the models we consider may change from the three listed above, a cost-analysis will be prepared for all models we do deem feasible for the STAR project.

Some of the key features of all models are:

• Seating capacity for at least 4 to 6 passengers
• Easy access to passenger area from side door
• Storage area for walkers and wheelchairs in the rear of van
• Ceiling is high enough so passengers can comfortably stand when loading and unloading

What’s Next?

• Continue attempting to contact agencies
• Further analysis of all models above and potential additional models (we will choose the best 3 to present)
• Preparation of a report template
• Update of the project schedule

This week Marty Frost from BEST has sent us the contact information for several agencies that already have similar van transportation systems in place that are willing to assist BEST and our team in creating the optimum design for the STAR project. Kyle and Simon will be responsible for contacting these agencies to find out a few things about their transportation system:

• The operating cost of their van (i.e.: driver’s wage, fuel, insurance, etc.)
• The acquisition cost of their modified van
• Potentially, a list of pros and cons of their current van
• Attempt to set up a meeting to view their current van

This would help us to decide if our initial design is feasible and whether or not to make any modifications.

In our discussion this week about the feasibility of the initial layout of the van’s interior that BEST has provided us, an issue of passenger safety was raised. In the initial drawing seen below, there are side-facing passengers on the top of the image. We are concerned that, in the unfortunate event of a collision, passengers may be more easily harmed sitting in this configuration. Alison will be investigating precedent studies on any safety issues with this seating arrangement. As safety of the passengers is of paramount concern, we are considering reconfiguring the design so there are two rows of three seats facing each other in lieu of removing the side facing seats. Furthermore, the corner seating may reduce leg room and we would also like our passengers to be as comfortable as possible. Any modifications will be discussed with Marty as soon as we have more information.

We have also discussed the actual size of van that will be modified with the final design. Tristan is currently in the process of creating a list of makes and models of vans we will be considering for our design, along with prices and dimensions of the interiors. Also, as we start viewing vans that are currently in use, we can have a better idea of makes and models we will be pricing. Below is an image of the size of van we are imagining will be used. Note that this image of the van doesn’t have any windows in the rear area where the passengers would be sitting. This is not desirable for our final design, we believe the passengers would be happier with windows and; therefore, we will research vehicles with windows in the passenger area.

(Image Source: Benz Insider)

Now that we have a clearer outline of our aspect of the STAR project, our initial work breakdown schedule will soon be finished. Our projected completion date of the final design is tentatively Friday, February 17th, if all goes as planned. However unforeseen issues may arise, so this date is not set in stone.

What’s Next?

Our project currently seems to be on track and in the next two weeks we need to do the following:

• View current vans at agencies
• Contact suppliers to get modification costs
• Prepare an initial cost outline
• First draft of dimensioned van interiors
• Review with Marty from BEST

Today (Thursday, January 26th), our CSL group met with Marty Frost from Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) to discuss our group’s role in the Seniors’ Transportation, Access and Resources (STAR) project. The meeting took place at BEST’s office on East Broadway and Main (see image below).

From this meeting, it is apparent that BEST has a clear vision already for STAR. STAR will be a service used to help interested parties obtain a van equipped to transport 4 to 6 seniors from location to location. Our role in the STAR project will be to provide BEST the information to assist these parties.

Marty Frost presented us with a drawing that is a basic design concept for the layout of the interior of the van. Below is a digitally recreated version of the hand drawn sketch. Note that the drawing is not to scale.

Some of the design features/requirements of the van are as follows. The passenger capacity of the van must be 4 to 6.  The drawing above illustrates 6 chairs that would all be facing inward in a semi-circle. The passengers will access the van from the side door labeled on the bottom of the drawing. One or two steps may be necessary for the passengers to enter. Passengers must be able to comfortably stand upright when inside the van to get to their seats. There is no need for a mechanical lifting mechanism for wheelchairs. The storage area at the back of the van (lefthand side of the drawing) will be used to store walkers and wheelchairs for those with reduced mobility. It will be accessed through the rear doors of the van.

What’s Next?

Marty Frost will be providing us with a list of contacts that already have vans used to transport seniors in service that are eager to help our CSL team assist BEST with STAR. He will also be contacting a few himself and forwarding us the information he obtains. Once we have received the contact list, we will gather information about the acquisition cost of the vans they have in use, typical operating costs of a van, contact information to vendors and suppliers that they used to customize their vans, pros and cons of their current vans and hopefully setup meetings to view their vans. We will also be on the look out for other groups that have similar transportation services set up in our communities to acquire additional information for STAR. We should then be able to start creating a dimensioned drawing of the van’s interior design and provide a fairly accurate quote for the acquisition and operating cost of a customized van used to transport seniors.

Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) started as a small group dedicated cyclists. BEST has now grown to an organization that works with government, educators, youth, work places and community groups to contribute to better quality of life for people in the lower Mainland. BEST provides an active, clean voice in sustainability choices.

We are a team of 6 second year, Civil Engineering students at the University of British Columbia involved in the Community Service Learning Project. Our team members are, from left to right: Kyle Kostyshin, Gari Sullano, Alison Zhan, Yitai Liu, Tristan Dyke, and Simon Pelta .

Our group looks forward to working with BEST on the Seniors’ Transportation, Access and Resources (STAR) project. STAR is a province-wide initiative working to assist seniors with programs and make transport available, accessible, predictable, convenient and affordable. In coordination with BEST, we aim to help improve the transportation aspect of STAR by gathering information and providing a typical cost of the acquisition, modifications and operation of vans currently being used for seniors’ transportation.