Sound and Communications - February 2008 Issue

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AV systems help VRE provide the necessary information to keep people moving, safely and efficiently. INFO ON THE FAST TRACK Public address and digital signage keep VA passengers ‘in the know.’ BY JIM STOKES For an average daily ridership of 17,000, the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) provides train information for all passengers, including those with sight and hearing disabilities, in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Accordingly, International Displays Systems (IDS), Dayton OH, installed a new Variable Message Sign System (VMS) at the railway’s Operation Control Center in Alexandria VA, and at 18 commuter stations in Northern Virginia and Washington DC. The VMS provides current train status information and passenger information via synchronized video display and audio announcements. Historic Road We’ll be traveling down the install road after we get a perspective of the railroad territory. Although Virginia was one of the original 13 colonies, we’ll not be going back that far. However, the key cities of Manassas, Fredericksburg and Alexandria figure significantly in the Civil War. For instance, the Manassas junction of two railroads was strategic to the two Battles of Bull Run. And the Fredericksburg rail line suffered a lot of damage but was also key for Union and Confederate war strategies. Those former hotbed areas of battle activity are now part of a peaceful landscape. On VRE’s map today, Manassas rep- resents the blue line and Fredericksburg indicates the red line. Their rail paths parallel at Alexandria and continue on into the country’s capital. Most of the passengers are businesspeople, including government contractors and subcontractors, as well as those in private enterprise in the greater Washington DC area. Furthermore, the VRE is rightly touted as an efficient and cost-saving way to commute. For example, VRE can get from Fredericksburg to DC in an hour and 15 minutes. It’s an alternative to driving along Route 95, where traffic might slow to a crawl. Three notable restored passenger train stops that serve Amtrak and VRE Sound & Communications Contributing Editor Jim Stokes has been involved in the AV industry for more than 30 years as an AV technician and writer. 52 Sound & Communications www.soundandcommunications.com
include Alexandria’s vintage Union Station, the Manassas stop housed in a brick station built by the old Southern railroad, and the Washington DC Union Station. Union Station functions as the southern hub for VRE, Amtrak and MARC (Maryland) trains in a vast complex that houses stores, eateries and movie theaters. (See “Virginia Railway Express (VRE)” for additional information.) Credits Our interviewees are Rob Keelor, IDS vice president, and Lou Woolner, project manager at VRE. The VRE operations board initially authorized DMJM Harris consulting engineers, Baltimore MD, for technical support regarding Train Information Provider (TRIP) software integration for new Variable Message Signs (VMS). The board stated that the “existing VMS date back to 1992 and have become technologically obsolete.” Guided by its president Rich Doyle, Turnkey Technology Corp., Mount Airy MD, had been authorized by the board to upgrade the older Orbital Science Corp. (OSC) TRIP system, as well (see sidebar, “Upgrading to TRIP II, Thanks to Rich Doyle”). In turn, IDS provided the equipment list and systems integration for the new project. From LEDs To LCDs VRE’s Woolner and IDS’ Keelor discussed the passenger signage changes. “What I like best about the system is that it’s very well done in that we have state-of-the-art LCD signs,” affirmed Woolner. “And, as far as I know, we’re the first to have them in the transit industry, on a commuter rail service. It’s been batted about for a long time that one of the restraints we have on our system is that we don’t have full canopies. But we’re going to be adding full canopies. And, subsequently, we would add more signs, as necessary.” Keelor discussed and defined the design concept, working with DMJM Harris, which was under contract with VRE: “So they had assistance in putting together the design. In concept, A map of Virginia Railway Express’ two lines and their stations. Each station featured different construction, so the mounts had to be customized as needed. This mount is hung from an existing structure. The open frame shows how the climate-controlled unit seals, keeping the elements—moisture, dust, etc.—out. they knew that they wanted LCDs. They wanted them mounted overhead. And they knew they wanted them ‘talking’ to their existing system. Then, when we [IDS] talked about detail design, we were talking about how the software interface would really work and what it would look like. Many of the changes that appeared at the stations were placements of the displays.” Keelor’s display placement concerns came down to a series of practical “where” questions: “Where does the sun rise and set?” “Where’s it hot?” “Where’s it cold?” “Where’s it bright?” “Where’s it dim?” “Where’s it high or low?” “Where’s the structural integrity?” Had To Answer The Questions “So we had to travel to each train station, confirming power availability, data availability, best pathways: all of these elements,” Keelor said. “And then we came in with a recommended design on a station-by-station basis that would meet the minimal functional requirements that were in the specifications.” The existing system had a series of LED signs, installed in 1992, that were in various states of operation, disrepair or repair. “For LEDs to work over 10 years is pretty doggone good,” stated Keelor. He explained that the old system displayed a single line of February 2008 53
Page 1 and 2: Vol. 54 No. 2 February 18, 2008 GRA
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