We got a new map for the routing software at work. We haven't had a map up grade, other than what I have drawn in, since 1998. So you can see how old our map is. The new digital map is the first step in getting live time GPS for the buses. The GPS will be really cool. We can see were a driver is and or was at any given time. So if a parent calls and complains that the bus never came by we can look it up and say, "the bus was there at 7:34 and waited 2 minutes". So now it won't just be the driver's word against the parent's word.
The down side of the new map is when they installed it into our program all the routes disappear. We knew that going in. I told my boss I would put in the hours to get it up and running before the 2012-2013 school. But I don't want the days I take off to go racing with Ron to count against me. She was fine with that. So this week I started drawing in the routes. There are about 2500. So it is not a quick fix. Monday thru Thursday I worked 12 hour days. I took of early on Friday working only 10 hours. Saturday was a very short 5 hour day. That's what my life will be like until I finish.
Well to make matters worse, the map is full of error. Streets where they don't belong. Routing down Arizona Ave I noticed a name change. That's right one 10th mile strip was titled Ryan Rd. Then I found a street that went through a park. There are bus loading zones at schools that have us dropping kids in the parking lot. Okay I can fix these as I find them. Wow more overtime (I hate overtime). The real kicker was when I found that some of the streets were not numbered correctly. Great now I'll have sped drivers turning right when they should turn left to get to a students house. Not to mention regular ed students will be assigned to the wrong bus stops. I found an apartment complex number in the adjacent neighborhood. So as I find the mistakes I fix them which makes routing a sloooow process.
We have been in contact with the software company. First person was not very concerned. You know a not my fault kind of deal. My boss got a hold of someone higher up. He is looking into it. So my office is where I will be spending my summer vacation.
The moral of the story, you don't get much for $30,000.00 these days.
9 years ago
1 comment:
Sounds hectic and very frustrating. I wonder if the district did what Goodman and Partridge do so often and go with the lowest bidder, and it ends up biting them in the butt because the quality is so bad. Is it really worth the savings if you end up having to pay employees more to fix it? Sorry you have to deal with this!
<3 you! Happy Mother's Day!
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