TABLE 2 EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNICATION METHODS: RESPONSE FROM TRANSIT AGENCIES

Communication Methods Score* Frequency** No. of Responses Telephone information service 71 4 17 TDD (telecommunication devices for the deaf) phone information service 58 4 16 Call out stops (voice) 56 4 15 Web-based information service 55 3 14 Automated telephone information service 45 4 12 Customer training 45 4 11 Trip planning 41 4 10 Detectable warnings (e.g., surface treatments) 32 5 7 Call-out stops (electronic) 24 3 6 Specialized signage for visually impaired persons 23 5 5 Male/female voices for vehicle direction 22 3 4 Fax information service 21 4 5 Symbols for persons with visual impairments 21 4 5 Flashing warning lights 18 5 4 PIBS (passenger information at bus stops) 16 4 4 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) 16 4 3 Braille cards 15 2 5 Electronic vehicle identification 14 5 3 Digitized voice messages 11 3 3 Automated information kiosks/touch screens 10 3 3 Travel ambassadors 10 5 2 Captioning 7   2 Tactile maps 5   1 Television monitors in big print 4   1 Measure of Effectiveness (Score): very ineffective, 1; ineffective, 2; somewhat effective, 3; effective, 4; very effective, 5. *Sum of individual scores. **Number of times each option identified by a survey respondent.