This research is designed to support FTA in its efforts to disseminate knowledge of new technologies within the transit community, in this case focusing on issues associated with automated fare collection (AFC) for commuter rail. By identifying "lessons learned" with AFC deployments, the report is also intended as a resource for commuter railroads considering adoption of AFC and/or joining multimodal electronic payment systems. The findings may be of particular use for commuter rail systems that are still in the planning stages and have the opportunity to leapfrog older technologies.

This Guidebook summarizes technical and organizational issues that influence the effectiveness with which spatial data are managed in a transit agency and provides guidance for avoiding and overcoming the barriers that typically pose problems for transit with respect to spatial data. Specifically, this Guidebook presents a set of "best practices" that minimize location-referencing problems and support effective spatial data usage. Given new tools and best practices information, transit agencies will benefit as spatial databases are built and expanded, as Geographic Information System (GIS) and ITS applications are installed and as ITS applications are maintained and operated.

The use of alternative fuels to power transit buses is steadily increasing. Several fuels, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and Methanol/Ethanol, are already being used. At present, there are no available comprehensive facility guidelines to assist transit agencies contemplating converting from diesel to electric of hybrid electric propulsion. This document addresses that need.